Friends of the Palmer library seeking volunteers

A library is one of the great keeping places of the memories of man. It is the hope of the Friends of the Palmer Public Library to keep it so. However, just five or six “friends” cannot do this huge undertaking alone.

Most of you who use the Palmer Public Library do not live in the city of Palmer. I am very sure though, that no Mat-Su Borough resident who wanted to use the library has ever been turned away.

According to the latest statistics, there are 7,537 registered library patrons who do not live in the city of Palmer. The Mat-Su Borough contributes only $45,000 yearly for the use of the Palmer Public Library for you residents living outside Palmer city limits. Compare this with $575,408 that the city of Palmer allots for the library for their 2,331 registered library patrons.

The total of $620,408 is not a large amount considering that the library is open six days a week, 52 weeks of the year. Just how do the librarians find enough funds to do the wonderful job they are currently doing? It is the volunteer efforts of the Friends of the Library, whose members are from the borough and city, that not only volunteer their time to help with the work at the library, but also help raise funds.

The Friends provide funds for the many new library books available for you to check out. They not only purchase books but also much of the equipment. This includes objects such as shelving, tables, chairs, visual equipment, two early literacy children’s computers, etc.

The Friends also sponsor the Sunday at two programs that many of you enjoy once a month on Sunday. We also provide funds for the librarians to purchase things on their “wish list.” One large project the Friends sponsor is the Summer Reading Program for the 1,024 children of this area.

On June 2, the Palmer Public Library begins the Summer Reading Program for the children in the community. Without the sponsorship of the Friends, there would be no such program for these children.

Surely, there must be some of you who realize the needs of the library and know just how important it is to our community. The Friends of the Palmer Public Library really needs more help from any of you who want to enhance life here in the Valley.

Hopefully, you now see the need. And now that you do, let me tell you how you can help make your community better by just volunteering or joining our group.

The Friends have many fund-raising events throughout the year. Volunteers are always needed. You might help with the Summer Reading Program if you lik`e to work with children.

If you love to be around books, we could certainly use help with our book sales that we sponsor. You could choose to go through donated books and pick out the better ones to sell at the library during operating hours.

Like silent auctions? We have one of those for Easter.

Not all volunteering means raising funds for the library. There are many tasks that help keep books where they belong on the shelves as well as decorating to keep the library an exciting place to be in.

Another source of funding is done through donations given to our group for memorials or gifts. These funds can be designated for whatever the donor wishes to do for the library. What better way for a donor to be remembered for years to come! Talk to your friends about this.

Just a reminder — any memorial or gift must be designated to the Friends of the Palmer Public Library and not just the Palmer Library. Otherwise, the funds go in the city’s general fund. We are a separate nonprofit group.

Be an active participant of the library and ask to join the Friends to help maintain our wonderful library. Children and adults alike will thank you!

Verna Euwer lives in Palmer.