What
’s on your list of New Year’s resolutions – losing weight,
exercising? This year, why not make a resolution to give something
back to your local community? One of the best opportunities for
making a difference in Morgan Hill is to join the Friends of the
Library.
What’s on your list of New Year’s resolutions – losing weight, exercising? This year, why not make a resolution to give something back to your local community? One of the best opportunities for making a difference in Morgan Hill is to join the Friends of the Library.
Through the efforts and contributions of the Friends, the library is able to offer programs such as weekly Children’s Storytimes, which feature puppets, flannel boards, craft supplies and music provided by the Friends. Summer Reading Club for children and teens is also made possible the Friends.
During Summer Reading Club, the Friends sponsor a series of professional-quality programs, such as Wildlife Associates and P & T Puppet Theater, and fund finishers prizes such as books, book gift certificates and magazine subscriptions. Last year, more than 700 children and teens participated in the library’s summer reading programs.
The Friends also sponsor special holiday programs for children, such as last year’s popular Singing Christmas Tree and Frosty the Snowman presentations by Fun City Show Company.
The library’s new bestseller collection and multiple copies of the book discussion group titles are also funded by the Friends. The Friends provide special materials such as audio recordings, CD-ROMs, microfiche of the Morgan Hill Times and the library furnishings and equipment needed to make these materials accessible to everyone.
How do the Friends make all of this possible? Through generous member contributions and by selling donated books at their bimonthly booksales. Through these booksales and other activities, the Friends provide some of the best volunteer opportunities in Morgan Hill. As a Friends volunteer, you can meet your neighbors, network with some of our local movers and shakers and work on fund-raising projects. These networking and resume-building opportunities can be particularly important if the economic downturn has left you with some extra time on your hands.
If you’d like to help sort donated books for the Friends booksale, just drop by the library booksale room any Wednesday at 9 a.m. for an hour or so – no reservations needed.
If you have more money than time, you can also become a Friend by making a cash contribution. To make a contribution, simply fill out a brief Friends application at the library checkout desk.
Whether you’re giving your time or money, the contributions you make through the Friends will help the library to fulfill its role as the cultural and education center of our community. If you’d like to find out more, attend the next Friends general meeting Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. in the library meeting room or call Beverley Williams, President of the Friends, at 776-7892.
Becoming a Friend is one New Year’s resolution you can keep.
Questions and suggested topics for At The Library, which appears in Tuesday editions, should be directed to Community Librarian Sarah Flowers at sf******@sc****.us or by calling 779-3196.
