Friends of the Libary

The Friends of the Library invited me to light the star on the top of the tree at the Library Friday evening. I was thrilled and honored. The Library was packed. The tree is so huge and so full of lights that star at the tippy top is honorary, but of course, necessary.

As are the Friends of the Library - necessary to the vibrancy of the Haines Borough Public Library. The Haines Borough Library has a paid staff - but that staff has the added benefit of the support of a volunteer group whose only mission, according to President Sara Chapell is to "say YES to the library." It sounds like a very nice way to create a positive work environment and it goes without saying, though I'll say it, positive employees are productive employees. The Friends are a 501-C-3 non-profit organization. Click here for specific information about the organizational structure of the Friends of the Library.

The Lighting of the Library is one of the Friends biggest fundraisers. Last year the Friends contributed $9000 to the Library's budget. The Friends pay for the Summer Reading Program - staff salary as well as those motivational prizes that encourage our kids to read, read, read. One of the most important items in the Friends budget is grant writing. Grant writing, funded by the Friends, brought in $150,000 over for FY11 and FY12. This year, the Friends also paid for a gardener to maintain the landscaping around the library. Friends also contributed to the cost of landscaping around the new totem pole. Though this year a State grant is funding the APT charge for internet usage over the allowable amount, in years past the Friends have absorbed this cost. We could all use a Friends Of.... (you fill in the blank!).