Love your library?
Me, too! I love all libraries! Whenever I visit a new town, I always make a point to visit the local library and find out what their Friends of the Library group is doing. If they are fortunate enough to have a Friends of the Library group, of course.
Right now, Friends groups across the country are in dire need of active participants. Oh, yes, your paid membership is invaluable and appreciated, but no organization can function without human beings doing real work.
That work can be as easy as organizing some books, entering ISBNs into a simple software program, or smiling and selling cookies, books, aprons, or what-have-yous to the general public. You can attend meetings regularly or just drop in, you can remain behind the scenes or shine in a leadership position; whatever fits your personality and interests.
And in the process, you’ll meet very nice people, be a giving member of your community, and you will ensure the survival of a group that too-often is taken for granted.
Did you know that the Shelby County FotL in Indiana has a little book shop inside the Shelbyville public library? And the Henderson County FotL in North Carolina has an entire building dedicated to housing and selling their used media?
Having held various offices with the Friends of the Lawrenceburg Public Library District, and having volunteered with Friends groups since I was 15 years old, I know what kind of a positive impact these non-profit groups have on not only the library, but the community, as well.
And I am painfully aware of how vital hands-on volunteers are to the success, and even the survival, of the Friends.
As a book reader/writer/gatherer, and as an avid library lover, I encourage you to show your respect for and appreciation of your own local library by joining and physically volunteering with the Friends of the Library. Without these groups, so many classes, like my own Hangry Kitchen and Naturally Creative series, would not be readily available to everyone for free.
Just look online, call or text; better yet, drop in your local library and learn about the Friends. If there isn’t such a group in your own library, check with the next county. Take my word for it, it’s great to be a Friend!
