A Message from the Director:

SJCPLS gets by with a little help from our Friends

Actually, we get by with a LOT of help from our Friends!

Through the years, our 7 Friends of the Library (FOL) groups have given nearly $1,000,000 to fund children’s programming, provide new furniture, contributed funding for new and emerging technology, contributed funding for new libraries and library renovations, and helped support staff training. FOL funds are used for many items that the county does not provide. In addition, the Friends have rallied countless times to advocate for well-funded libraries.

October 20-26, 2019 is National Friends of the Library Week, and it’s the perfect opportunity for SJCPLS to give our Friends a big shout out for all they do to make a difference for us every single day. Currently, over 1400 community members contribute annually to the Friends. The gift of their time and commitment to our libraries sets an example for how volunteerism leads to positive civic engagement and the betterment of our community.

SJCPLS could not do what we do without the continued support of our Friends groups. Joining the Friends of the Library is a terrific way to make new friends of your own and make your local library even better. Visit the Friends of the Library page on the Library website and join a group that makes a real difference. With six branches and two bookmobiles throughout the county, it’s easy to find a Friends group nearby!

Visit our Friends of the Library page and join the FOL today!

Debra Rhodes Gibson, Library System Director