There's a group of people here in Gainesville that are truly dedicated to getting books back into the community at reasonable prices and at the same time, earning extra monies for the Alachua County Library District.
This group began over 50 years ago and has grown over the years into a dynamic organization of people who move hundreds of thousands of donated books through the facility annually and get them back into the community and monies to the library. All the folks are volunteers - no paid personnel.
The Friends of the Library is a group of dedicated volunteers that pull together TWO sales per year at their "Bookhouse Headquarters" at 430-B N.. Main Street in Gainesville. The Spring and Fall Book Sales earn money for library support and programs. The proceeds from these sales go directly back to our community.
The sales' proceeds sponsor on-going education for library staff in the form of scholarships to continue education. FOL sponsors the "Snuggle Up and Read" at the libraries and the Head Start reading program by donating books annually for Head Start children. They donate monies to the library for books, computers, supplies, etc. and have even given the Alachua County Library District monies to purchase a piece of property to enlarge the Hawthorn Branch. We have a "Books for Soldiers" program that ships books overseas to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on a regular basis.
The Friends of the Library website at will give you a good overview of the work we all do - and they have a newsletter that goes out to try and keep the community up to date in our progress.
My mom is one of those dedicated volunteers. Meet my mom, Patsy Sanders. She has served the Friends of the Library for 10 years. She has provided me with these great photos and information about Gainesville's Friends of the Library Program. So here is some great facts and info from my mom:
"We are also always looking for new volunteers, people who can help sort donated books at the bookhouse, can help work at the 2 sales per year for a few hours or more and do appreciate any time that volunteers can offer us. Friends of the Library sales are a semi-annual event drawing thousands of people from Alachua and surrounding counties, as well as dealers who travel here because our FOL Sale has become famous on the book sale circuit. Being part of this group for almost 10 years has been quite uplifting and gives much more in return for the hours in friendships, community service and the feeling that what I am doing benefits so very many people."
Friends of the Library are constantly looking for new members and our membership fees are:
| • | $100 Corporate Membership |
| • | $50 Patron |
| • | $25 Family Membership |
| • | $15 Individual Membership |
| • | $10 Student or Senior Citizen Membership (65 and older) |
Donate your BOOKS !! Donate your time !!
And come to THE NEXT SALE scheduled for 2008 is October 18-22, 2008.
Written and Posted By: Chris Bohn, GRI- ABR-ePro- Gainesville FL Real Estate Copyright © 2008
Chris Bohn, RE/MAX Professionals, Inc., is a Florida Realtor® who specializes in Gainesville, FL and communities in Alachua County, FL . To find out more information about her real estate services please visit her profile . You are welcome to contact her by phone at 352-472-4472 Ext 103 or by email at chris@eHomesGainesville.com . You can click to view her listings or visit her website. Thank you for your visit.
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