Double Your Gift Giving at the Library
By Teresa Myers
As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, we have all watched sadly as favorite storefronts close and beloved restaurants shutter, casualties of the abrupt and lengthy shutdown brought on by this terrible disease. Many businesses and nonprofits have suffered economically during this time, and many are still struggling to hang on. At the Library, one of the early victims of the novel coronavirus was the quarterly used book sales sponsored and run by the Friends of the Longmont Library. Most people don’t realize it, but the profits from those book sales played a big part in making our Library the special place it is.
The Friends of the Longmont Library is a nonprofit operated entirely by a volunteer board of directors and dozens of other volunteers. They sort and price donated books, manage and run the lobby book shop and gift shop, and handle the disposal of unsellable books to other needy charities. Through the efforts of these dedicated volunteers, the Friends are able to fund all (that’s right, ALL) of the Library’s programming, including the Summer Reading Program for Children and Teens, Adult Authors We Love visits, and bingo games, as well as specialty collections such as the Library of Things, Discovery Passes, Experience Bags, The Great Courses, and more. Quite honestly, the Friends pay for all of your favorite things at the Library, and we would not be the same Library without them.
The bad news is that the Friends have not been able to raise their usual funds this year. However, the good news is that you can still do something to support the Friends — and, through them, your Library — when you shop this holiday season. While you’re out and about doing your gift shopping, consider stopping by the Library and picking up some books from the Friends’ Lobby Book Shop. The books are a steal at only $2 for most paperbacks and $3 for most hardcovers. Or, if books aren’t your thing to give, cross the lobby to the Friends’ gift shop and take a gander at the high-quality, thoughtful, and unique gifts for all the readers, writers, artists, and smartypants in your life. Got a person who has it all on your list? Give them the gift of a Friends membership. Only $15 per year buys them a monthly newsletter, early entry to book sales when they resume, and the warm fuzzy feeling of being a part of something good.
By shopping at the Library, you’ll be sharing your gift twice — once to your delighted recipients who will enjoy the wonderful presents you’ll give, and again to the Library, which will continue to provide the special programs and materials that you love. In fact, I suppose you could say that you’d actually be sharing your gift with a third group, too — your community. By supporting the Friends, you’ll also be supporting the job seekers gaining skills in the computer lab, the children and young parents at storytime, and the language learners in our language programs. Talk about gift giving! But whatever you do this holiday season and wherever you shop, be sure to stop by and visit us at the Library. We and our Friends are always happy to see you.
Learn more about the Friends of the Longmont Library at https://friendsofthelongmontlibrary.org/.
