Erie, PA – The Erie County Public Library will celebrate its Friends of the Library group all this week as part of the 13th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week, Oct. 20-26.
The Friends of the Erie County Public Library support the five Erie County Public Library locations with funds for programming and special events such as the Summer Library Challenge, adult computer classes, outreach programs, staff development days and library advertising.
Fundraising efforts are conducted by the group through “The Great American Book Sale,” which takes place annually each June, smaller book sales in the spring and fall, and via the Bayfront Bookshelf – a used book and gift shop located in the lobby of Blasco Library. They have also offered to raise funds for the Minerva statue restoration.
“The Friends of the Library work tirelessly to promote the library and to provide funding for our growing catalog of
educational and fun programming,” said Sheryl Thomas, assistant director of Erie County Public Library. “They are a dynamic and amazing group of individuals whose passion for libraries is contagious. I’m grateful to have such an active Friends group here in Erie, and I know the library is indebted to them for their support!”
Members of the Friends organization include Peg Shenefelt (president), Carol Gettinger (vice president), Marcy Bencivenga (treasurer) and Sara Sheehan (secretary), plus nine additional board members and many devoted volunteers.
Please contact the Friends at 814-451-6927 or visit erielibraryfriends.org to learn more about the group, and to find out how to become a Friend.
The public is invited to “Friend Your Library” by sharing a selfie to the library’s social media channels with the hashtag #FriendYourLibrary, by volunteering time to our Friends group, or by making a donation to support library programming.
National Friends of Libraries Week is coordinated by United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united.
