Regina Young
Much like the books she reads, Mary Frances McNulty is hoping to hook an audience through a bit of clever writing this spring.
By capturing people’s attention as they shop around town, she means to encourage the public to visit a place that is near and dear to her heart – the Doylestown branch of the Bucks County Free Library (BCFL).
“For me personally, I always go to the Doylestown library – either for school projects or just to find books to read for enjoyment,” said the 16-year-old. “I’ve always found the library to be a vital part of the community.”
McNulty is a member of the library’s Community Promotion Crew Team, and in this volunteer role she recently launched a creative marketing campaign consisting of catchphrases and funny questions that several Doylestown businesses have posted on their doors and bulletin boards, in yet another demonstration of community members coming together during the pandemic.
While the role itself is fairly new to McNulty – one that began earlier this year – volunteerism is not. A borough resident, she began volunteering at the Doylestown library a few years ago, assisting with the BCFL’s Summer Quest reading program.
“I did that for a few years prior to the pandemic and I loved it,” she said. “I love interacting with people and meeting new people, especially in our community.”
When coronavirus restrictions prevented the Doylestown branch from hosting Summer Quest in its traditional format, McNulty volunteered to package materials for program participants to use at home. She also worked last summer with Operation Doylestown, an initiative to revitalize the small business community in the wake of COVID-19 lockdowns.
In January, when she learned the Doylestown library sought new ideas for informing the public about its services, the high school junior – who is contemplating a career in business – jumped once more at the opportunity to make a difference.
“Because of COVID, the library has been exploring different ways that our teen volunteers can help us virtually or as ‘curbside volunteers,’ promoting the library in their community, creating fun social media posts for our Instagram, writing book reviews and more,” explained Michelle Kiker, Youth Services librarian for the Doylestown branch.
“We really appreciated Mary Frances’ creativity and hard work as a member of our Community Promotion Crew Team, and it was awesome to see her plan her project from start to finish.”
That process, McNulty detailed, began with submitting a proposal to the library.
“I created about 10 to 12 flyers,” she said. “They were just different, catchy phrases or different questions that prompt you to visit the library.”
Phrases such as: “Is your New Year’s resolution to get physically fit? Visit your local public library and give your brain a workout.”
“Just different, funny and clever ways of plugging the library into different scenarios,” she added.
After library staff signed off on her idea, she took her placards to downtown shops and restaurants. Approximately 10 businesses have partnered in the campaign, posting flyers on their doors, in their windows and at registers, and McNulty is now working on expanding the project to shops located beyond the center of town.
A high honors student at Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland, McNulty is the recipient of the Widener University and NBC10 High School Leadership Award, Kate Abel Memorial Scholarship and the Mother Maria Kaupas Scholarship.
She is the founder of two school clubs, Future Business Leaders of America and the VJM High School Wreaths Across America Chapter, and she’s also a member of several others, including the Mission and Ministry Team (Sacristan and Prayer and Liturgy team leader), Catholic Relief Services (ambassador) and National English Honor Society.
Since April 2020, she has served as a student representative on the Doylestown Historic and Architectural Review Board, and come this fall, she will join the Doylestown Borough Council as a junior councilperson.
Turning 17 in just a few days, McNulty derives much joy from helping others – a passion that persisted before – and will long after – the events of 2020.
Community service, she said, “has been an important part of my life ever since I was younger. My parents are also very involved in serving the community, so from a very young age I’ve been interested in serving others and serving my community. I feel now, moving forward, it’s a part of me, and I will continue to serve others in my community and beyond.”
Businesses that wish to post one of McNulty’s flyers can email her at mfmcnulty4@gmail.com.
The library, noted Kiker, will post more information on volunteer opportunities as summer approaches. Visit buckslib.org for details.
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