WANNA BE A FRIEND?

Join the friends of the Bluffton Library

Written by Donald Walli

hile it has become evident that the number of Bluffton residents visiting our local library is increasing every month, it has also been realized that relatively few people are fully aware of the Friends of the Library organization. Simply put, the Friends is a nonprofit organization of people who support our library financially and through volunteer efforts. The Friends of the Bluffton Library regard the library as a vital educational, informational and cultural institution, which makes our community a better place to live.

Perhaps a major reason for this lack of awareness about the “Friends” is simply that the impetus of the Friends is not self-promotion but is primarily to place their volunteer efforts and fund raising activities toward helping the Bluffton Branch to better serve the residents of this rapidly growing area. There is, however, one area that the Friends board is working on and that is to increase the membership numbers. There are now fewer than 200 members and efforts are being made continuously to increase that figure. Each of these Friends members offer assistance to the library with membership fees and volunteer efforts in a variety of capacities. However, it is the twelve members of the board who provide the leadership, expertise, time and responsiveness to support the management and staff of our Bluffton Branch Library in their efforts to enhance the public library experience through the funding of special events and projects. It is this small group of dedicated volunteers whom Branch Manager Ann Rosen regards as her “indispensable asset” to the library.

The next time you go the library, you will notice the efforts and impact of the Friends of the Library just inside the front door. As you enter the automatic entrance doors, look to your right to see three large rotating bookcases full of hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction books for sale. The ongoing Friends book sale section provides used books at bargain prices and an excellent fundraiser whose proceeds benefit the Bluffton Library. Notice also the 24 feet of bookshelves under a sign reading “FRIENDS BOOK SALES CORNER.” Smaller signs are posted to provide the range of prices -- all competitively priced bargains. Rows and rows of hardcover books displayed by authors’ names fill these shelves, along with nonfiction books on almost every conceivable interest area such as travel, sailing, gardening, religion, cooking, sports and hobbies of all kinds. Still another upright case is filled with CD’s, DVD’s, movies and books on tape and other works. Visit the Bluffton Branch on the last Saturday of each month and you would see multiple tables stacked with books at especially low prices under “CLEARANCE SALE “ signs. It is this “sales corner” and the Saturday sales event organized and conducted by Friends volunteers that provide thousand of dollars of revenue to the Friends -- revenues which are then available to provide value-added library programs and services.

As you proceed a few more steps into the library, you will see hanging on the wall a large metal sculpture in the shape of a tree. Notice especially a nearby plaque inscribed as follows: “The Giving Tree” Donated by Friends of the Library to Honor our Generous Donors.” Note then the dozens of leaves in copper and bronze engraved with the individual donor’s names. The Friends do not consider this to be a completed project yet as a “Finish The Tree” campaign is now underway to seek additional donations to meet the growing needs of the Bluffton Branch Library.

In addition to the funds generated by sales of books, book bags, membership fees and donations, the Friends fundraising endeavors include special auctions and miscellaneous contributions as well as interest on CD’s and bank deposits. These revenues provide the fundraising needed to cover special equipment purchases such as a poster printer to advertise library programs and events, and the programming and teaching supplies for the many adult and children’s events held at the Bluffton Library. Another example of the friends fundraising in action are the three “spinners” or cases purchased by the Friends when library staff saw a need to make DVDs more accessible to patrons. The library’s operating budget has been reduced substantially from State and County sources, so the Friends of the Library organization has been instrumental in meeting library service and equipment needs that may otherwise not be possible.

As stated by the Friends board president, Mrs. Gail Eskra, “We want the library to be able to continue to provide the services we are all accustomed to and to help them grow for the future.”

September is National Library Month and what better time to make sure you have a Beaufort County Library card, and very importantly that you visit the library and be a true friend by joining the Friends of the Bluffton Branch Library organization. You are needed and will be welcomed.