Who We Are
The Friends of the Lawrence Public Library is a group of like-minded individuals who believe in the importance of a strong community library. The Friends organization is committed to
achieving this goal by raising funds through our book sales and memberships, participating in volunteer opportunities and by advocating for the Lawrence Public Library. Befriend your
library! Lawrence needs the continued support of its concerned citizens for a strong library to educate our children, provide resources to our businesses, and to meet the growing
information needs of the community. You can help this happen!
What We Do
The Friends of the Larence Public Library's main fundraising events are its two major book sales each year. Our members contribute countless volunteer hours year-round sorting and pricing,
preparing the sale spaces, as well as restocking, assisting customers and cashiering during the sales. Members also attend meetings, serve on committees and promote library accomplishments
throughout the community. Since 2000, the Friends have donated over $400,000 in grants and in-kind donations to the library, including new materials for the circulating collection, reading
programs such as the River City Reading Festival, authors, speakers, children's activities and technology upgrades.
How To Help
By joining the Friends organization, you can guarantee that this essential support of the Lawrence Public Library continues. Members can see the difference firsthand by becoming Friends
volunteers. Volunteering might include sorting and pricing donated books throughout the year, helping to set up for the sales, cashiering, or restocking shelves. Membership comes with benefits
as well: admission to Members Night before each sale opens to the public, bidding privileges at the fall silent auction, two newsletters per year and a vote at the annual meeting. You can help
the Friends promote awareness of the library in our community, help the library buy books for the collection, as well as computers and other equipment, fund educational and literacy programs
for all ages, and work to improve library services. Please join the Friends of the Lawrence Public Library for another great year!
Donate Used Books and Other Items for the Sales
The Friends donation bins are located in the Adult Services area next to the online catalog computers.
You may also drive up and deliver items on the west side of the building in the staff parking lot. Donations are received Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm. Please
ring the doorbell and a staff person will assist you.
Friends Library Support
In 2008, the Friends funded the following items for the library: advertising, Internet bandwidth increase, summer reading support, security cameras, new computers, staff educational scholarships,
River City Reading Festival and Read Across Lawrence, plastic book bags, and the maintenance of the children's room aquarium.
In addition, many donated books are selected by the library staff to put into the library?s collection. The total amount for 2008 was estimated at a value of $29,300.
|
