Friends of the Fraser Library searching for new members

FRASER — The Friends of the Fraser Public Library is holding a recruitment event at their next meeting on Wednesday, March 1.

The Friends are a nonprofit organization that helps support the library and aid them in their mission of serving the community.

“The activities of the Friends members depends on what the library needs,” said Friends President Karen Arendall. “We might help support a teen program if they need help with it. We promote the library in general. It all just depends. In the past, the library has had activities like the summer reading program, and they have a big event to close it out. Sometimes we help with that, for instance. Sometimes we help with their Trunk-or-Treat program, and so forth.”

The upcoming events the Friends have planned so far for 2023 include their spring book sale, taking place from Saturday, March 25, through Tuesday, March 28; their Spring Fling on Saturday, May 20; their fall book sale from Saturday, Sept. 23, to Tuesday, Sept. 26; and the Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14.

“We do book sales, and we do two of them a year now that the pandemic is over. We also do a spring fling and fall festival event in October so there are fun events in Fraser that support library programs,” Arendall said. “(At) the Spring Fling, children come with adults, and there is plenty to do like a book sale, white elephant event and raffle. We’re always looking for people with artistic skills for events like this to do things like face painting.”

Library Director Lorena McDowell said that the aid the Friends provide the library is enormous.

“The Friends and their efforts have been invaluable in keeping Fraser Public Library active and allowing us to have programming that caters to all ages,” she said in an email.

The recruitment push will take place at their upcoming meeting on Wednesday, March 1.

“At the upcoming meeting, which is March 1, we will be planning out the book sale and recruiting people to work on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday for the book sale,” said Arendall. “We need someone working at the door to collect fees and others to provide some general help. We also would be looking for people to help us set up the book sale, and we would need people to help clean up and pack up the books on the day after.”

The meeting is from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in the library’s upstairs room. The library is located at 16330 14 Mile Road. More information on the meeting is available by calling the library at (586) 293-2055.

Arendall said that many local organizations such as the Friends need to boost their number of volunteers after having so many drift away during the pandemic.

“I think any volunteer organization has to do constant recruiting,” she said. “Most had more people active before the pandemic, and people’s lives have pulled them in other directions during the time we weren’t hosting a lot of events.”

“We welcome and need more people to join us to prepare and provide a good library experience,” added Ellen Bryans, the Friends’ vice president. “We have a good time with all our friends and the projects and fun times we offer. In order to continue, we need new ideas and interests from others who share our passion to keep libraries for all those who enjoy them.”

Arendall said the Friends are a great, low-pressure way to get involved and help the local community.

“The Friends give you a good chance to connect with other adults in the community, and it is fun to help with these activities,” she said. “When I retired, I realized I needed more connection in the community, and the Friends have been a great group of people to help me do that. The library is a great feature in Fraser and I also get to help keep it that way.”

Arendall also said that the Friends have allowed her to help in a variety of fun and interesting ways.

“As a Friend, I have made and sold baked goods, painted faces, organized books for sale, manned a craft table, poured cider and handed out doughnuts and monitored the animal exhibit,” said Arendall. “There have been children with laughter, questions and enthusiasm.”

“A few years ago, I joined the Friends of the Fraser Library. I’ve participated in several book sales, spring and fall events, bake sales and white sales and more,” added Bryans. “At our last Fall Festival, I was promoting raffle tickets for a special basket of treats and special gifts. I was standing near the reception desk and observing several young people waiting to check out books.”

Arendall said the money they’ve raised has helped the library in diverse ways over the years, besides helping at events.

“The Friends during 2022 were able to donate funds to support the Summer Reading Program and also purchase a 3D printer that may be used by the public,” she said. “Purchases in the past have included garden upgrades, new book shelves, painting and lighting.”