Friends of Marion Public Library
What is a ‘Friend’?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as
1 a : one attached to another by affection or esteem b : Acquaintance
2 a : one that is not hostile b : one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3 : one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4 : a favored companion
How would you define it? When I think of my friends, I always smile. Oh the crazy, fun times, we have had together! I always think about my 2 best friends. My friend Tina called me in a panic at 1:00 a.m. from the ER one night when they thought her husband had a heart attack. My friend Kim dragged her boyfriend on a double date when I started going out with my husband to ‘check him out’. I was the first person to see my friend Tina’s daughter when she was born. I got hopelessly lost with Tina and Kim on a trip to Des Moines. Think about your friends. What have they done for you? What have you done for them? What wonderful and sometime terrible times and adventures have you shared?
What is a Friend of the Library? Would you call then at 1:00 a.m. because you need to talk? Would you drive halfway across Iowa with them? You might, but that’s not really what they are all about. The Friends of the Library were started in September 1993, with the lofty goal of helping to settle the Library in a new home. Twelve years later, Denise Pamperin, then president of Friends, handed a $28,000 check to the library for the purchase of shelving and furniture for the children’s room in the new library. Since then the Friends have supported the Library. In 2004, when the programming budget was cut the Friends pledged $450 for Summer Reading performers and prizes. In 2005, the Friends purchased 2 new computers, bringing the total of Free Use Public Internet Computers to four. They also purchase 3 new DVD’s each month. “We have an excellent, well rounded DVD collection thanks to the purchases by the Friends group” say Director Lisa Hein. The Friends supports the story hours at the library, buying books and craft materials for the children.
How does this dedicated group do all of these wonderful things? Each year the Friends have a membership drive in addition to a couple of fundraisers. There is the Bake Sale the Friday before the start of Deer Season. “I know I look forward to all of the goodies that Leone brings back.” Laughs Gerry Neyers, whose wife Leone is a Board member of the friends and who runs the bake sale each year with Arlene Mantsch. The Friends also hold an annual Holiday Raffle. “This year we are going to shake it up a bit” says Laurie Knitt, president of Friends “We will be having a series of theme baskets to raffle off. So far we know that we will have a Christmas Basket and a Golf Basket. I guess we will have to see what our dedicated group donates and we will make up baskets with those items, and of course a book or two... or more!”
So please consider the Friends of the Marion Public Library your friend and help them to support the Library. They continue to bring to the citizens of the Marion Area high quality materials and programs for all to enjoy. They might be up for the occasional road trip, but you probably shouldn’t call after 10:00 though!
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Marion Public Library is a proud member of the Outagamie
Waupaca Library System.