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Friends of Lawrence Library members
Marilyn Bowers and Linda DiMateo |
The majority of funding for the Mercer County Library System comes via a dedicated tax paid by residents or persons who own property in member municipalities. These funds provide the bulk of the monies that allow for purchasing items for the collection and facility maintenance. A lot of what you see in your local branch and think about as your library is provided by these funds. But, these funds are not the only ones that help support MCLS - most branches also have a group that they can look to for support. These independent registered 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, for the most part known as “Friends,” tend to focus their efforts on funding library programming for children and adults. Amazed at everything happening monthly at your branch? Those programs are supported by Friends. Kids crafts? Friends support. Summer Reading Club prizes? Friends support. Exercise sessions, yoga, music concerts, author talks? All supported by Friends.
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Hightstown Library Association Treasurer
Curtis Crowell at a recent library book sale |
The support these groups provide is both financial and generosity of time. They are made up of community members that value libraries. If you share a similar vision for how libraries benefit communities, contact
your local branch and ask about getting involved.
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Hightstown Library Association President
Jane Fenton plants a new tree in front of the library. |
When it comes to providing funding, most Friends groups accomplish this through a combination of on-going book sales and larger sales throughout the year. Want to know when your branch will have its next sale? Those are listed on the Library System’s
website. One-hundred percent of the funds generated from these respective sales go to supporting the branch library. In most cases, these funds support all of a branch’s programs – such as Summer Reading Clubs, music concerts, and author visits. Book sales provide several opportunities for the community to get involved.
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Phyllis Anker, Friends of the Hickory Corner
Library member and East Windsor Library
Commission representative sorts books
prior to a recent library book sale. |
Individuals can volunteer their time around these book sales. Friends groups are always interested in help with setting up and running their larger sales. When you see a book sale taking place at your library, there has been quite of bit of work behind the scenes to pull it all together! Individuals are needed to help sort, organize and set up sales. During the sales, volunteers are needed to help keep things organized and generally assist the public at large.
Not able to volunteer your time at an upcoming sale? Maybe you have some books in good condition that you could donate to your local branch to be a part of their sale. When you donate materials to your local branch, these items may wind up in the collection, as prize books, or as a part of a book sale. Since these sales are each Friends group’s primary revenue generator, having materials for these sales is paramount. The times that a branch is able to accept donations and what it can accept varies, so make sure to contact them first before you pack up your materials and head out. The Friends will be glad to have your items!
Finally, you can shop the sales! You can shop your
branch’s on-going or larger sale and know that 100% of what you spend is going right back into your branch. How easy is that? Just by purchasing some gently used classics, you’ll be directly supporting the wide array of programs that your branch offers each month.
If you have been shopping your branch’s book sale for years, you have been supporting library programming all along. Thinking about becoming more active? Seek out your branch’s Friends group and try attending meetings or helping out with a book sale. You’ll find yourself around like-minded people from your community, people that appreciate how much libraries strengthen and bring communities together. You’ll find yourself instantly among Friends.
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| Friends of the Hickory Corner Library |
- James D., Lawrence Headquarters Branch
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