Submitted by Courtney Oberhansli, Mineral County Library Director

During the month of February Mineral County Friends of the Library will be holding a membership drive to get people involved in their library. Membership is only $1 and it gives a vote and a say in what happens at the library. A table will be set up in the library foyer attended by Friends who can answer any questions about who the Friends are and what the Friends group does. A courtesy cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or cider will be offered as an incentive to join. Come get involved in your library; be a Friend.

Friends of the Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity that exists to support and promote Mineral County Library in Hawthorne and its branch in Mina. More specifically, Friends have helped over the years to fund new shelving and magazine racks, chairs for the Mina meeting room, Summer Reading Program supplies and prizes, Library Page training for high school students, and refreshments for activities. Friends helped to fund the copier that patrons use daily, paid for extra carpet cleaning and general cleaning when especially needed, purchased a new vacuum cleaner for staff to use when a quick cleanup is necessary, and provided refrigerators for both the meeting rooms and staff area. The two fish tanks are maintained with funds from the Friends and the very popular Wii station was a Friends’ contribution to our gamers. Not surprisingly, they also help fund books every year, particularly children’s books! Upcoming initiatives for Friends include bringing a children’s theater group in the spring and establishing a covered table area that smokers can use away from the front entrance. It is easy to see that these efforts positively affect all users of the library.

How does this group fund all of these projects? Book sales of donated or withdrawn materials are an ongoing fundraiser and special raffles occur throughout the year such as the recent Christmas raffle of 3 towers of sweets which each included a gift certificate to a local eatery. The group’s annual raffle occurs in May with prizes that range from a cash portion of proceeds to artwork and quilts. The Friends of the Library group has also been the beneficiary of generous bequests such as the one left by loyal patron of the library, Norma Joyce Scott. Many members also donate extra when they rejoin each year and every bit contributes to this wonderful library.

Stop in and chat with a Friend while you drink a cup of something delicious.