Friends' contributions to library marked

Jackson County Public Library is spending the week of Oct. 21 through Oct. 27 celebrating its Friends of the Library group as part of the sixth annual celebration of National Friends of the Library Week.

The Friends of the Library was formed in 1977 to support the Seymour Public Library. The organizing officers were Wayne Proell, temporary chairman; Carol Wait, secretary; and members of the by-laws committee: Herbert Montgomery, William and Anne Schmitt, Betty Elsner, Judy Michael, Marita Douglas and Leora Topie.

Current officers of the Friends are Julie Nay and Stephanie Mysak, co-presidents; Roberta Sabine, secretary and vice president; and Sandi Hall, treasurer. Teddi Ashcraft, Linda Booher, Joyce Fouts, Nancy Kent, Billie Richardson and Ann Schwein are board members.

Today, the Jackson County Public Library provides free library services to area residents. While public funding covers the costs of salaries for professional staff, utilities and other operational costs, the library often looks to private sources of funding for a portion of the budget each year.

The bulk of that annual private funding comes from Friends of the Library, through its book sales and special events such as the Oktoberfest parking lot sales.

In the past year, the Friends donated more than $7,700 to provide special programming such as the Summer Reading Program, Seymour Rotary’s I Like Me books and more.

Friends of the Library is always looking for more volunteers to help support the library. Some current opportunities include:

• Fall Book Sale. Setup begins on the afternoon of Nov. 1. Volunteers (especially those who can lift boxes of books) are needed to arrange the books on tables by subject. The sale opens with a preview for Friends members at 4 p.m. Nov. 2, and is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3 and from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 4. Volunteers are needed to keep the sales area looking neat and to cashier. Call Linda Booher at 523-2334 if you’d like to help.
• Monthly Book Cellar and ongoing Book Nook Sales. Donations come in daily and have to be processed. The Book Nook shelves are stocked weekly and Book Cellar shelves monthly to ensure a good selection. To volunteer to help with these flexible activities, contact Linda Booher at 523-2334.

Even if you can’t volunteer for one of the events mentioned, you can help by becoming a member of the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library.

Applications are available at the checkout desks at the Seymour, Crothersville and Medora libraries, or you can mail your tax-deductible membership fee to Friends of the Jackson County Public Library, 303 W. Second St., Seymour, IN 47274.

Membership categories are member, $5; family, $10; patron, $25; and benefactor, $50. Or you may donate any amount you wish to contribute.

Julia Aker is director of Jackson County Public Library. It operates libraries in Crothersville, Medora and Seymour. Send comments to ddavis@tribtown.com.