Avid readers of ALL ages benefit from a benevolent group of volunteers who are dedicated to our public libraries by promoting literacy, education, technology, community and culture for every child and adult in the Mooresville area. This group is called The Friends of the Library.
“The Friends of the Library support the mission of the library,” says Terry Pardue. “We fundraise to enable the library to do ‘extra’ programming and to purchase items not covered in the library budget.”
“The Friends of the Library raised the money to buy extra capacity ‘towers’ for the MPL book locker,” says Terry Pardue. This feature is similar to an Amazon locker that will hold your requested books until you can pick them up. (Previously, it was at the YMCA and then at the Selma Burke Center. Currently, it is at Iredell Health System on Bluefield Road.)
Friends of the Library provide so many benefits for our local library. “Over the years, they have been instrumental in helping outfit different aspects of library service,“ states Marian Lytle, Library Director.
In the early 2000s, The Friends of the Library was founded to support the expansion of the main library in Downtown Mooresville,” states Terry Pardue. “The organization has since morphed into a broader based mission of supporting all library activities.”
They’ve sponsored the annual Fall Author Series, purchased tables and artwork for the West Branch and have recruited for the annual children’s book swap to purchase new chapter books for older readers.
In addition, Friends of the Library supports the Books to Go Program that provides homebound library users with reading materials which is delivered monthly by the volunteers. Friends of the Library volunteer at the annual summer reading kickoff event and provide yummy goodies for the library staff during the Holidays.
Their most recent endeavor was the Teacher Book Bag event in December. “We ended up having 38 MGSD/ISS teachers choose a total of just over 1,400 books for their classrooms,” states Shelby Riggs. “Plus we gave around 1,200 books to Promising Pages – a Charlotte book bank.” These gifts of books are made possible through community donations.
Another one of the organization’s objectives is to provide funding for the monthly Race City Reads Library Newsletter that enables library users and community members to discover all of the cool things happening at our two library branches.
“We have used book drop offs usually twice each month,” says Terry Pardue. Check the Library calendar for the dates to drop the books off at The West Branch Library.
To raise money for the programs, a $2.00 donation is suggested for each used book. “We hold back the most recent titles for a “live sale,” adds Pardue. “These sales occur every two to three months and we ask $5.00 per those books.”
Currently, there are around 40 people participating in Friends of the Library. Anyone can join (see the membership section on the website.) Being a volunteer “Friend” of the Library is a great way to give back to our community.
If you are interested in learning more about The Friends of the Library – COME TO THE MEETING — Saturday, February 8th at 10:00-11:30 at The West Branch. This is a fabulous time to learn about the organization, chat with some of the volunteers and learn how YOU can give back to our community.
In addition, February’s meeting has a GUEST SPEAKER – Local Author – Tesa Jones
Tesa Jones will be the guest speaker at the Saturday, February 8th meeting. Jones is a local author, blogger and reporter. This event will be at The West Branch. Join the fun – bring your questions.
Click the Connect button below to explore all of Karen Anthony’s insights on healthy living, fitness, and nutrition. Stay inspired and live well, Lake Norman!
Click the Connect button below to explore all of Tesa’s insights and reporting on Mooresville Treasures
Click the Connect button below to explore Tesa Jones’ writing journey, her background, and the stories that inspire her work! ✍️???? #LKNConnectArticle by Tesa Jones
Tesa Jones is a graduate of Elon College, now Elon University, a mother of two, a grandmother of five, and she currently resides in Mooresville with her husband. She is a published author, an avid blogger, and a passionate photographer. Learn more about Tesa Jones at www.booksbytesajones.com/book and contact her via:
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our writers belong solely to them
and do not represent LKNConnect.com, its publisher or its staff.
