Before there was a Thousand Oaks City Library, there was the Thousand Oaks Branch of the Ventura County Free Library System. It all began in 1945 with Ethel Nixon and her husband operating a circulating library out of their general merchandise store at the request of the Ventura County Library System.
In December 1961, a small group of women calling themselves Friends of the Library, Conejo Valley Chapter organized to support the library. They held their first Fall book fair, Twice Sold Tales, in 1962 to benefit the library raising $217. By March 1962, construction planning for the “permanent” library at 191 W. Wilbur Road close to the Conejo Village Mall was taking place. Ventura County taxpayers stocked and staffed that Conejo Branch of the Ventura County Library System on land leased from the Janss Investment Corporation.
Friends’ annual book sales continued until the Conejo Valley Friends disbanded in 1974. The group reorganized in 1977 determined to see an even larger library constructed. When the Thousand Oaks Library opened on Janss Road in 1982, the Conejo Friends became the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library. It was in 1982 when the Thousand Oaks City Council assumed responsibility to provide library
services in the Conejo Valley. At that time, a County Bookmobile served the Newbury Park area.
The Friends website (at http://www.ftol.org) was launched in 2009 and in 2014, the Friends began selling selected books online through eBay and Amazon. Today, combined book sales, fundraising activities, and membership fees support library activities with nearly $200,000 in funding each year.
From its beginning, FTOL has benefited from the time, energy, and ingenuity of hundreds of volunteers in book sales, publicity, and program facilitation. FTOL sponsors two monthly reading clubs (the Friendly Book Discussion Group, and the History Book Discussion Group) and funded and continues to support the main library’s 3600-gallon saltwater aquarium. The Friends provide financial support for ongoing programs such as the Summer Reading Club, the One City, One Book community reading program, performance activities, children’s programs, educational events, and more. FTOL is proud of our role in supporting the Thousand Oaks Library System and looks forward to the next 60 years of providing this community support.
60th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR
September 13 – City Council Meeting: Friends Proclamation on the 60 Years of Service Celebration, 5:30PM
September 19 – 60th Anniversary Grand Reopening of the Grant R. Brimhall Library Friends’ Bookshop
- Stop by the Friends table for a tour
- Get bookmarks, goodies, and an anniversary BOGO coupon, good through the end of September
- Join the Friends for the Ribbon Cutting at 4:30PM
September 24 – FTOL 60th Anniversary Celebration at the Grant R. Brimhall Library featuring Children’s Art and Writing
- Stop by the Friends Table during the Library’s Ruby Red 40th Anniversary celebration at the Grant R. Brimhall Library
- Get an anniversary BOGO coupon, good through the end of September
- Bookmarks — Distribution to schools and homeschoolers in the Conejo Valley
October – Participate in the month-long 60th Anniversary Scavenger Hunt
- Come out to see the Friends at the Rotary Street Fair October 16
- Attend the Fall Book Sale at the Newbury Park Library October 22