Gavilan College awards nonprofit group with Community Spirit
Award
The Friends of Morgan Library has been bestowed the Community Spirit Award by Gavilan College for its role in the community and essential support of the local library.
The Friends of the Library received the award at a special ceremony Thursday, Sept. 1, during the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Golden Oak restaurant.
Formed over 40 years ago to support the Morgan Hill Library, the organization is approximately 85 members strong. In 1975, it received its nonprofit status and continues to help the library through volunteer efforts and fundraising.
The Friends group raises thousands of dollars mainly through used book sales. Money from the sales is used to buy materials, furnishings and programs the library cannot otherwise afford.
The all-volunteer organization holds two monthly book sales on the first Saturday and third Wednesday of every month. Members spend hours sorting books, staffing the library bookstore, and working to raise awareness and patronage for the library. The organization’s Back to School book sale was held Sept. 3 and featured a huge selection of specially priced books. The group encourages the community to donate used books and videos.
Carol O’Hare, president of the Friends of the Library, said the group thanks Gavilan College for the award. She said last year, the Friends donated over $20,000 to the library. The money went to library materials, the best sellers collection, summer reading program, some furnishings, the book club, adult and teen programs and children’s programs. The organization also gave $4,000 to support the library parcel tax campaign.
“This year, we are advocating for the city to allocate up to $1 million remaining RDA funds to upgrading the interior finishings, better hardscaping and improving landscape of the new library,” said O’Hare. “The library also plans to campaign to raise money to provide high quality furnishings for the new library.”
