Summers Hours:
Tuesdays—Saturdays
10-6

Winter Hours:
Tuesdays 10–4
Thursdays 10–6
Fridays 10–4
Saturdays 10–4

November 2007

The Friends of the Library Newsletter

The Librarian’s Notebook

Summer was delightfully busy at Friend Memorial Library. Dozens of kids played our Get a Clue game each week, using the catalog to find the book that would answer the question of the week. Our Friends of the Library group provided $25 bookstore gift certificates as prizes, and we had 8 excited winners!

Summer programs also included a storyteller for the youngest kids, a Harry Potter evening with reading and music, a Sisters in Crime panel discussion with two Maine mystery writers, a one-man portrayal of Mark Twain, and several poetry readings.

Whether you are looking for inspiring new recipes for fall, ideas for your current project, the DVD of the Brooklin Boat Builders Forum, great new kids’ books, or just a good read, we have something for you. And if the perfect thing isn’t here, we can get it for you. Come visit your library.

~Stephanie Atwater, Librarian

Who are “The Friends of the Library”?

Friend Memorial Library by its very name invites patrons to enter and enjoy its fine collection of materials. The library’s name does not identify its location by any town, state, or GPS coordinates, nor is it indicative of any physical trait of the building or its surroundings. “Friend” is a local family name, as many of you know—a family that “got the ball rolling” for what we now know as our beloved library.

Most libraries have a friends-of-the-library group, and our library is no exception. In fact, our little library has a dedicated group of volunteers who serve the library. Some of these volunteers work at various tasks on behalf of the library. Some comprise The Friends of Friend Memorial Library Board (or Friends of FML), which holds book sales and other functions to raise money to maintain the beautiful Circle of Friends Garden on the library grounds, and to fund other projects for the library.

Still other volunteers serve on the Board of Trustees of Friend Memorial Library, which governs the library and its staff. Are you confused yet? Here’s more: all Brooklin residents who patronize our library are automatically members of the Friends of the Library (Friends of FML).

This newsletter is produced and financed by the Friends of FML. It contains information about the activities that have kept us occupied for the past few months, as well as future doings. If you have a little time to volunteer, the library is a great place to meet new F(f)riends and serve your community. Right now we’re looking for people to help with our book sales and the holiday open house, and although our Board is complete at the moment (see the Board Members list), we sometimes have openings there.

As always, we appreciate the generous donations of time, financial contributions, goods and services from so many friends of the library. Thank you all for a wonderful year.

~Brenda Means, President of the Friends of FML

November Book Sale

Just in time for your holiday shopping, we’re planning a book sale for Saturday, November 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in Bowden Hall. These are newly donated books—no reruns—in mint condition and well sorted to simplify your browsing. We’ll also offer our library book bags, notecards, and postcards for sale. And our prices can’t be beat. Do come! Proceeds benefit our library in so many ways.

Won’t You Sponsor Me?

Our fundraiser to purchase the full set of Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia is proceeding well, with 11 of the 16 volumes sponsored. We are still looking for donors to sponsor the remaining volumes, or to donate toward a volume. Donations of any amount will be recognized by an inscription on bookplates for each volume. Can you help?

Mammals I - $115 Amphibians - $120
Mammals V - $115 Protostomes - $125
Lower Life - $125

Winding Down in the Garden

The library’s Circle of Friends Garden provided a peaceful spot over the past months for those seeking a quiet place to read, lunch or meet friends. Laptop users were often observed checking e-mail, while babies, accompanied by proud grandmothers, napped in the shade. The Friends delight in the fact that the efforts to finance and maintain the garden have so successfully met the goals set when it was first created. Thanks goes out to all the volunteers who keep it going.

~Peggy Hopkins, Chair, Garden Committee

Books for Babies

Our Books for Babies gift bags were delivered to many Brooklin families this summer, welcoming newborns. We appreciate your help in keeping us informed about these new arrivals.

~Nancy Randall 359-8587

Calling all Designing Friends

The Friends are looking for help in designing a new look for our stationery and book bags. If you have any ideas for a logo design, we’d love to hear from you.

Holiday Open House

Please stop in at the library on Saturday, December 15, for our annual holiday open house from 12 noon to 2 p.m. We’ll offer entertainment, nibbles, mulled cider, good company, and a place to gather to wish new and old friends happy holidays.

Annual Meeting

The annual Mmeting of the Friends of Friend Memorial Library is Saturday, December 1, at 9:30 a.m. at the library. All Brooklin residents who are patrons of our library are voting members of the Friends and are welcome. The Board of the Friends of the Library will present an amendment to the by-laws for discussion and vote.

Garden Committee Chair: Peggy Hopkins, Member of the Board of Trustees of Friend Memorial Library

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