February 13, 2002
Friends bind library together
District Library group celebrates 20th anniversary
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
At the dawn of their third decade of service, volunteers with the Friends of the Library are looking to the future.
With a library gift shop in the offing and a constant stream of special events to host - from the popular Live and the Library series to annual book sales to summer Stories in the Park - volunteers will be busier than ever.
With a membership including 360 families, leaders in the Friends of the Library are looking ahead to the next 20 years.
"We have the perception that the Friends are the best kept secret in town," said Ethel Kage, president of the Friends of the Library and a member for around four years. "The sole purpose of the Friend of the Library is to support the library. More and more over the past few years the help has been with programs, but there isn't anything they can't ask for."
For library director Mike McGuire, having a ready, willing and able pool of volunteers to help out with program is a huge asset. Having worked closely with the group for the past 20 years, he appreciates the Friends' assistance with a whole range of programs.
"They certainly are able to band together when needed to get things done," said Mike McGuire, director of the library. "It's been a real welcome thing."
In addition, the Friends of the Library are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a series of special events, including a visit in the fall by the Unites States Poet Laureate, Billy Collins. Fifth Third Bank granted $20,000 to sponsor the anniversary celebrations.
The goal of their anniversary celebrations is twofold: get the word out about the Friends volunteers and what they do for area libraries and help raise money for the Friends of the Library Foundation.
The foundation, which was established in January 1999, with a goal of ensuring that the library would always have the funds needed for services. Given the annual uncertainty of library funding from the state, this fund will provide continuity to the community.
"This fund will ensure that the library is here and able to function at its current level for many years to come," Kage noted.
The mission of the Friends of the Library shifted after the move to the Woodmere facility. Expanded space allowed new programs, which this year will include a literacy outreach program financed by a $1,000 grant last December from Wal-Mart to the Friends of the Library. In addition, funds from book sales and other programs were given to member libraries for computer equipment last year and are earmarked for summer reading programs this year.
"With the move to the bigger library on Woodmere, we have had more programs because the old building wasn't big enough to do them in," Kage noted. "The library is definitely become a community center, the very nucleus of our community."
Patty Pelizzari, vice president of the Friends of the Library agrees. Having been a member for the past 10 years, she is determined that the Friends continue to serve the community and to find new leaders and volunteers to help do this.
"I think the library is the best community resource we have and what I love most about it is the span of people who come in," she said. "It is extremely inclusive every day. If there's a segment of the community not served, we want to be able to reach out to them."