The Galesburg Public Library will spend the week of October 20-26, 2019, celebrating its Friends of the Library group as part of the 13th annual celebration of National Friends of the Library Week.
Friends of Galesburg Public Library was established in 1984 to support the library through volunteering, fundraising, and advocacy. Best known for their semi-annual book sale, the Friends are responsible for providing some of the most used and best loved resources GPL has to offer, including enhanced wi-fi, books given away to program participants, and the ever-popular story time bubble machine.
Funds from the book sale are used to support adult, teen, and children’s programs. According to Melinda Jones-Rhodes, head librarian in the children’s department, “If you come to the children’s room and you look around, you can hardly look anywhere without seeing something the Friends have provided.”
In addition to raising funds for library purchases, the Friends serve the library by volunteering, advocating on behalf of the library to the community, and supporting library staff: “In my experience, Friends groups are vital to the morale of library staff, and Friends of the Galesburg Public Library are no different,” says Noelle Thompson, library director. “The Friends offer broad support, believing in our mission and rooting for our success.”
To join Friends of the Galesburg Public Library, pick up a form at GPL or visit the library’s website, galesburglibrary.org. Membership dues start at $10 for teens and seniors. Current officers include Verna Treasure as President, David Graflund as Vice-President, Christine Sackey as secretary, and Kathleen Leahr as Treasurer.
The fall book sale will be in the upstairs meeting room of the library where donated books, CDs, audiobooks, and DVDs will be sold at prices starting at fifty cents. According to Thompson, “We have high-quality, popular titles covering a range of topics for all ages, thanks to the generous donors in our community.” Members of the Friends may attend the book sale preview on Friday, October 18, 4-7pm, and nonmembers may pay a $5 entrance fee. Saturday, October 19 is open to the public from 9am to 4pm, and on Monday, October 21 from 9am to 1pm, shoppers may purchase a bag of books for just $3.
Galesburg Public Library is located at 40 E. Simmons St., Galesburg, Illinois. For more information, please call 309-343-6118.
***Report Courtesy of the Galesburg Public Library***
