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Friends of San Pedro (Calif.) Library

Public Library Friends Group without Staff

Friends of San Pedro Library celebrated National Friends of Libraries Week with activities that included participation of Friends members, library staff, library patrons, civil officials, local merchants, and local news media.

During the week, the Friends staffed a hospitality table in the library entrance. Historic photos of the library were on display in the library’s community room. An essay contest was held for children, young adults, and adults, on the topic “Why I Like the Library.” An award reception was held Fri., Oct. 23 to recognize the winners. Winners read their essays and received a certificate, an “I Love San Pedro Library” bumper sticker, and their choice of an item from the library book store. Copies of the winning essays were given to each person in attendance. Fifteenth District Councilwoman Janice Hahn recognized Friends of San Pedro Library for its celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week.

The Friends’ annual dinner meeting, held Oct. 24, featured guest speaker Lisa Coffi, who cofounded Shakespeare by the Sea, a summer festival in San Pedro and other South Bay venues.

Friends of Lake Community Branch Library (Uniontown, Ohio)

Public Library Friends Group without Staff

The Friends of the Lake Community Branch Library used the slogan “Libraries Need Friends More Than Ever” as part of its 2009 celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week. For the Friends of the Lake County Community Branch Library, the slogan expressed the importance of community efforts to maintain library services despite reductions in state funding.

Members and library staff produced a series of display boards highlighting ongoing Friends activities. Volunteer opportunities such as maintaining the Friends’ alphabet garden and working on the annual book sale, were prominently displayed in the library’s entryway. Publicity included outdoor signage, radio announcements, and news releases. The publicity set the stage for the Friends’ 2010 membership drive.

Patrons had an opportunity to learn about the financial support Friends give by naming items purchased by the Friends and entering a drawing. Labels were placed on tote bags, desk chairs, tables, the bike rack, benches, and other items. The winner received a tote bag filled with books.

The Friends’ annual meeting was held Oct. 21. Author David Lee Morgan, Jr., discussed his recently published sports titles. Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream served a special creation, “Liberry Sorbet” (lime with raspberry swirls).

Library Friends of Conroe (Conroe, Texas)

Public Library Friends Group without Staff

Library Friends of Conroe (Conroe, Texas) celebrated National Friends of Libraries Week with a Pirate’s Treasure Party at the library on the Friday of that week. The invitation read “We treasure our library and volunteers…Don’t miss out or you’ll have to walk the plank!...All treasure maps of knowledge lead to the library.” The invitation was packaged in an envelope made out of a repurposed road map. County officials, library board members, and local media were among those who received the 350 invitations.

At the party, the Friends gave out certificates to volunteers, and coasters that read “Volunteers are treasures” were given to members. A Jack Sparrow cut-out was on display in the Friends’ book nook, and several Friends and staffed posed with “Jack” for photos.

In advance of the party, a table promoting the Friends was set up at the library that included brochures, membership applications, activity sheets for children, and bookmarks. A letter to the editor about National Friends of Libraries Week was printed in the local paper, The Courier.

Friends of Birmingham (Ala.) Public Library

Public Library Friends Group with Staff

The Friends of Birmingham Public Library celebrated National Friends of Libraries Week for the first time in 2009. The group used the opportunity to launch a fundraising/membership campaign. The week began with the Friends, Trustees, and staff greeting patrons and serving cake in the library’s atrium. Several patrons signed up for membership.

The City of Birmingham presented the Friends with a proclamation thanking them for their funding and support of library programs. The Friends also hosted a successful luncheon for volunteers, Trustees, and staff, encouraging them to join the Friends. Overall, the fundraising/membership campaign resulted in 100 new members and raised more than $2,800.

The week’s activities concluded with Friends President Dora Sims and library board President Gwendolyn Welch appearing on a WATV talk show to promote the Friends’ 2009 Local Authors’ Expo. Held in December, the Local Authors’ Expo is a two-day event held at the library that allows local authors to promote and sell their self-published books.

Empire Friends Roundtable

State Friends

In 2009, the Empire Friends Roundtable continued their initiative to promote the celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week to Friends groups throughout New York State. Using the funds they received for winning a 2008 National Friends of Libraries Week Award, plus a donated amount of $50, the Empire Friends held its own contest for the best celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week in New York State. The categories were large Friends group for a public library (more than 300 members), small Friends group for a public library (300 or fewer members) and non-public library Friends group (school, college, university, or special library Friends).

Thanks to support from the Legislative Committee of the New York Library Association and the action by Michael Borges, NYLA director, the New York State Assembly passed Assembly #748, declaring Oct. 18-24, 2009, as National Friends of Libraries Week. Read how the Empire Friends achieved this resolution.

Empire Friends is thus recognized with a third National Friends of Libraries Week Award for their continued successful promotions of National Friends of Libraries Week throughout New York State.