It’s National Friends of the Libraries Week!
National Friends of the Libraries Week promotes groups that support libraries across the country.
Before I get into the types of things that Friends of the Libraries (FOL) groups do, I first want to give some history.
The first group that named itself “Friends of the Library” in the United States was founded in Illinois in 1922. The first year, this group raised $365 through membership fees and used that money to help purchase books for their library.
The first Friends group for a University Library (yes, they have Friends groups too) formed at Harvard in 1925.
By 1959, there were 400 groups in the U.S. Now, there are over 5,000 Friends of the Library groups in the United States.
Members of the Jackson County Friends of the Library organizations are folks who believe in and support our libraries by providing partnership and support right here in our communities. Our Jackson County Libraries are fortunate enough to have many active Friends groups. Our Friends provide support in a variety of ways, including:
- Supporting education and literacy by funding important programs for children and youth, which include storytimes and summer reading
- Volunteerism
- Sponsoring book clubs, author visits, and presenters of cultural and historical programs
- Community advocacy and awareness
If you are wanting to learn how you can join or support your local Friends of the Library group, contact your local branch.
And to showcase some of the amazing things that our Friends groups sponsor – be sure to check out these following programs:
Community Yoga at the Ruch Branch
Life Along the Applegate Trail with Linda Lochard at the Gold Hill Branch