PCPL celebrating National Friends of Libraries Week

Joined by Friends of the Putnam County Library President Gwen Morris and PCPL Director Matt McClelland, Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory signs a proclamation recognizing Oct. 18-24 as Friends of Libraries Week.

Courtesy photo

The Putnam County Public Library will be spending the week of Oct. 18-24 recognizing its Friends of the Library group as part of the 14th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week.

The Friends of the Putnam County Public Library were established in 1993, and have funded library programs and collections, sponsored the annual library Halloween party, run the Friends of the Library bookstore and more since their formation.

Currently, over 80 community members contribute annually to the Friends, and many of these contributors actively volunteer their time to assist the group with fundraising efforts that include maintaining and organizing the Friends of the Library bookstore, among other administrative and fundraising activities.

“It is especially in difficult times like these that we need to properly recognize our Friends of the Library,” said Director Matt McClelland. “Their constant dedication, especially to raising funds for the children of Putnam County, is something that is worthy of recognition.

“We certainly regret as a library our inability to safely host our traditional programming at the moment,” McClelland added. “But through both their time and donations, it is our Friends group that leaves me hopeful that we will be able to get back to normal once that time comes.”

Friends of the Library officers are President Gwen Morris, Vice President Judy King and Treasurer Lisa Barker.

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.

To join the Friends of the Library, email Barker at lbarker@pcpl21.org. Memberships are $25 per year and grant access to the Friends’ annual meeting, in addition to other special events and activities. All Friends of the Library memberships go directly toward the library’s programming, services and materials.

For more information about National Friends of Libraries Week, visit www.ala.org/united.