National Friends of Libraries Week
(Anacortes, WA) 10/18/2023 -- The Friends of the Anacortes Library will be spending the week of October 17-23, 2021, celebrating its Friends of the Library group as part of the 16th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week.
The Friends of the Anacortes Library were established in 1969 and have raised over $500,000 for the library to date. Currently over 250 community members contribute annually to the Friends, and nearly 20 of these contributors actively volunteer their time to assist the group that include volunteering in the FriendShop and at our book sales.
“The library has always played such an important role in my life and in my family’s life,” said Friends President, Kandy DuBuque. “I truly enjoy being able to give something back to this amazing community – and being an active member of this group is so rewarding.”
“The Friends of the Library are the Library's most integral resource for providing programming for all ages.” said library director Jeff Vogel. “The city budget has never provided funds for programming, focusing instead on core support like staffing and facilities. The Friend's financial support has a direct positive impact on the community by funding everything from decorations for our larger events like Genre Fest to pizza for our teen writing group and supplies for our Children's STEAM and craft programs. As a crucial part of what the library offers to the community, programs not only provide learning opportunities and inspiration, they create opportunities for connections with community members of all ages. Donations to the Friends make programming possible and when you donate to the Friends and attend one of our programs, you can see your money at work enriching the community.”
National Friends of Libraries Week is coordinated by United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united.
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