In a celebration of community, service and a shared commitment to literacy, the Friends of the Oceanside Library hosted its annual Founders Day Breakfast on March 22, honoring two local leaders whose contributions have made a lasting impact: Oceanside High School senior Laylah Brown and educator Jessica Keegan.
Held each year, the breakfast serves as both a recognition ceremony and a key fundraiser for Friends, a nonprofit separate from the library that supports the facility’s programs and services through community events and initiatives.
Roughly 70 to 75 residents attended the gathering, according to Friends President Kathy Schirrmacher, who explained that it continues a longstanding tradition of highlighting individuals who embody the library’s mission of promoting literacy, lifelong learning and community engagement.
“The Founders Day brings attention not only to the library and the Friends, but also to the people we honor,” Schirrmacher said. “It shines a light on what they are doing to better our community.”
Each year, the organization typically honors an adult and a teen. The adults are recognized for advancing literacy and supporting the library’s mission, and youth honorees are celebrated for their volunteerism and energy.
This year’s Founders Award was presented to Keegan, the Oceanside school district’s director of elementary teaching and learning, for her leadership in literacy initiatives and her ongoing support of the library.
In a statement prepared for the event, Keegan was described as someone who “goes above and beyond to preserve and support the library’s mission to be a leader in literacy, lifelong learning, culture and community.” She played a key role in the One Oceanside community reading project, and was recently named a Literacy Luminary by Molloy University’s Literary Conference Committee.
Keegan’s work, organizers said, has helped strengthen Oceanside’s identity as a community of readers.
The Marion Sager Youth Award was presented to Laylah Brown, in recognition of her extensive volunteer service and her dedication to the library’s youth programs.
Brown has become a familiar and dependable presence at library events, including OceanCon, Dr. Seuss & Friends Day and the Summer Reading Club. Last summer alone she contributed 65 volunteer hours supporting children’s programming.
“Laylah consistently shows up with enthusiasm and a positive attitude,” Schirrmacher said in a statement. “Her kindness and initiative truly stand out.”
Friends Vice President Meryl Pearlstein emphasized the importance of recognizing volunteers like Brown, noting that acknowledgment can have a lasting impact, especially for young people.
“I’m a firm believer in positive reinforcement,” Pearlstein said. “Honoring people is a way of showing that their work is appreciated not just by family and friends, but by an entire community.”
Pearlstein added that the recognition can inspire continued involvement, and encourage others to contribute.
Events like the Founders Day Breakfast also play a broader role in strengthening community ties, she said, by raising awareness of volunteer efforts and fostering a culture of appreciation. “We need to make people aware of what others are doing to make our community better,” Pearlstein said. “It helps our community thrive.”
In addition to honoring individuals, the breakfast serves as the kickoff for the Friends’ largest annual fundraiser, the Win Every Day in April raffle. The initiative features daily prizes in the form of gift cards from local businesses, with winners re-entered for additional chances throughout the month.
The funds raised through such efforts directly support library programming, events and enhancements.
Schirrmacher noted that community support is especially important as libraries continue to evolve in the digital age. “Our library is really the community hub,” she said. “It’s a place for face-to-face interaction at a time when so much of our lives are spent on screens.”
While libraries were once primarily centers for borrowing books, both Schirrmacher and Pearlstein said they have grown into dynamic spaces offering classes, cultural programs and opportunities for social connection.
The Oceanside Library, for example, serves as a warming center in the winter and a cooling center in the summer, while also hosting programs for residents of all ages.
“It’s more than just a library,” Pearlstein said. “It’s a place where people meet, form friendships and feel a sense of belonging.”
The Friends organization also supports initiatives including a StoryWalk at Oceanside Park, summer gazebo poetry readings at Schoolhouse Green and other upcoming community events including concerts and educational programs.
For Pearlstein, involvement with Friends represents an opportunity to give back to a place that has long been meaningful in her life. “I’ve always loved libraries,” she said. “This is about supporting something that gives so much to the community.”
As the organization looks ahead, members say they hope to expand participation and encourage more residents to get involved, whether through volunteering or attending events.
“We’re always looking for people to join and help,” Pearlstein said. “The more people who are involved, the stronger our library — and our community — becomes.”
Through events like the Founders Day Breakfast, organizers say, that sense of connection remains at the heart of their mission — ensuring that the library continues to serve not just as a place for learning, but as a cornerstone of the Oceanside community.
