National Friends of the Library Week
This week is National Friends of the Library Week, when we celebrate our greatest supporters!
The Friends of the Library is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that supports the library through fundraising, volunteering, and spreading the word about library resources and programs. There are four chapters, one for each physical location: Blue Ridge, Buchanan, Eagle Rock, and Fincastle. Thanks to the Friends’ support, the libraries have added new furniture, special book collections, cafés, special presenters, Summer Learning Challenge prizes, and more.
You don’t have to be a Friends member to support them! You can provide support directly just by doing your routine or holiday shopping as well as direct donations.
Donate used books
Friends accept donations of gently used books, DVDs and CDs. All proceeds directly benefit library projects and programming. Drop off items at any library branch during normal business hours.
Donate funds
Since the Friends group is a non-profit organization, you can get a charitable giving tax write-off by donating any amount of funding directly to the Friends of the Library. You can contact any Friends chapter through the library’s website, or you can bring cash or checks directly to the library to pass on to its Friends chapter.
Shop with Amazon Smile
If you shop with Amazon, use Amazon Smile to make sure the Friends get 0.5% of the purchase price from any eligible purchase. Register to support the “Botetourt County Friends of the Library” at www.smile.amazon.com, then always start your shopping at that website to make sure your purchases count toward Friends’ support. Like to shop on your phone? You can download the Amazon Smile app on your smartphone instead.
Already registered to support Friends through Amazon Smile in the past? Please note that the previous charity name was misspelled as “Botecourt.” Now that it’s corrected, you’ll need to go back and choose the correct charity name to make sure funds get to the Botetourt County Friends of the Library.
Shop at Kroger
Before your next shopping trip to Kroger, go to www.kroger.com/account/communityrewards. Register your Kroger shopping card with the organization number NW304, or you can also find the Friends organization by searching the name “Botetourt County.” Once you register, it takes 10 business days for purchases to start counting toward Friends’ earnings.
Join the Friends
You can join any Friends chapter by filling out an online form or paper form at the library. Each chapter elects its own officers, which typically include a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary. Some chapters charge membership dues, while others are free.
Members vary in their level of contribution. Some volunteer every week and attend regular meetings, while others participate occasionally with special projects or events. Other members simply pay dues without further involvement. You decide how involved you want to be!
Visit www.bocolibraries.info > Support Us > Friends of the Library to learn more, contact Friends, or use the links referenced above. On behalf of our Friends, thank you for supporting them and by extension, our library!