Everybody needs friends, and libraries are no exception. While we receive most of our funding from state and local government – and donations from generous patrons, businesses and community groups – it’s still not enough to cover everything. While operating costs have gone up, state funding levels have declined and the budgets of local municipalities have been stretched with many demands.
That’s where the Friends of the Emmaus Public Library come in. Through special events and fundraising efforts, the Friends have contributed well over half a million dollars to the library since they formed in 1998, providing a vital source of additional funds as well as volunteer hours for the past 20 years.
How do they do it? In addition to the money they receive from memberships (see below), the Friends are busy all year long organizing events and other fundraisers. If you’ve ever wondered what the Friends’ group does, here’s a look:
Holiday Book Sale
This Friday, Nov. 30, from 6-8 p.m., the Friends will hold their annual Holiday Book Sale and Reception in the Margaret Knoll Gardner room at the library. Books in gift-worthy condition for all interests and ages will be available at great prices, along with hand-painted bookmarks. The sale is a fun way to do some holiday shopping while supporting the library.
Held in cooperation with the Emmaus Main Street Partners holiday celebration, the event will include wine, punch and cheese, and feature live acoustic guitar by Mike Anthus.
The evening will be capped off by the presentation of a ceremonial check to the library for $36,600 representing the Friends’ total annual contribution raised through the spring book sale (see below) and other programs.
[Please note that the library is closed during this event.]
Dan Schantz Greenhouse Coupons
Decorate your home or office for the holidays with festive poinsettias, wreaths and Christmas trees from Dan Schantz Greenhouse, and – if you use the special Friends’ coupon that you can pick up at the circulation desk or download here – the library receives $2 for every $10 you spend!
This is a great, easy way to ‘donate’ to the library that doesn’t cost any extra money and supports a local business as well.
Books & Beer
Speaking of supporting the library and local businesses, the Friends hosted the first Books & Beer fundraising event at Yergey Brewing and Triple Sun Spirits in March. People enjoyed good food (included in the ticket price), artisan beers and spirits, and lively discussions of books. They also had the opportunity to buy hand-painted bookmarks and win Reader Winter Survival baskets.
The second Books & Beer is scheduled for March 20, 2019. Tickets (only $10) become available Feb. 1 and include food and a chance to win the door prize. Mark your calendar and bring a book to swap!
Spring Book Sale
The biggest Friends’ fundraiser of the year is the annual spring book sale, held every April in conjunction with the East Penn School District’s food provider and other community organizations. This year’s book sale raised nearly $12,000!
Held at the Lower Macungie Middle School, the sale features thousands of great books and ends with a ‘brown bag blowout’ for last-minute bargains at the close of the day. Mark your calendars now for next year’s book sale on Sat., April 13, with a members-only preview night on April 12.
Book donations are accepted year-round at the library for the Friends’ spring sale and other fundraisers. Please refer to this earlier post for donation guidelines.
Friends’ Book Nook @ EPL
The Friends offer a variety of books for sale in the library for as little as a quarter all year round from two carts located across from the circulation desk. Soon, they will offer a much larger selection in a permanent book sale nook next to the Margaret Knoll Gardner lecture room that previously housed part of the children’s collection.
Words on Wheels
In addition to supporting the library financially with fundraising throughout the year, the Friends also provides ‘Words on Wheels’ to deliver books, large-print books, and audio books to house-bound residents who live within the library’s service area. The service, which began in 1999, is totally free. A volunteer visits with the client to discuss what materials they prefer and what special areas of interest they have.
If you are a resident of a municipality served by the Emmaus Library and would like to apply for Words on Wheels (or if you know of someone who is house-bound and might benefit from the service), please call the library at 610-965-9284. Brochures containing an application are available at the circulation desk.
Become a Friend
If you’d like to get involved in supporting the library and joining a fun and worthwhile group, consider becoming a Friend. Membership is open to everyone, and you don’t need to live in an area served by the Emmaus Library or be a member of the library to join. There are various levels of membership (you may join for as little as $10), and all donations may be treated as charitable contributions for Federal Income Tax purposes. Here’s just a sampling of what your contribution will make possible:
$15 = A new children’s book or a music CD- $20 = Reference materials or an educational video
- $30 = Fiction/non-fiction additions to the adult collection
- $50 = Reference books
- $75 = An unabridged book on tape
- $100 = Computer software
- $300 = An annual local newspaper subscription
- $450 = Financial services, such as Morningstar
- $500 = An out-of-area newspaper subscription
- $1,000 = Computer, printer, or other electronic devices
Members receive invitations to special events, enjoy a preview night before the spring book sale, and receive the newsletter Friend to Friend. If you would like to join the Friends, call the library at 610-965-9284 or stop in and pick up a brochure containing a membership application.
