Support Your Library - Volunteer

Where would we be without our Friends?

Friends members volunteer their time in many ways.

Often referred to as the "Central Friends group", the Friends of the Madison Public Library provide volunteer support and recognition, advocacy, and supplemental funds for special projects and collections that the Library could otherwise not afford. Thanks to the proceeds from a thriving Friends Book Store at the Central Library and successful book sales and other events, the Friends have contributed greatly to the Library's program of services. Each branch library also has its own Friends group.

Friends membership dues and fundraising proceeds:

• Support the Summer Library Program, a citywide effort that aims to keep children and teens reading and learning and using their public libraries over the summer
• Purchase materials such as adult and juvenile reference books, books on special topics such as business, gardening or home crafts, or books in languages other than English for the collections at all branches,
• Fund the purchase of materials in various media, including CDs, videos, books on tape, and DVDs, the newest and most popular format.
• Support programming including library milestones and anniversary celebrations, author presentations, and winter reading clubs
• Provide funding for the purchase of public art pieces, furniture, and signs intended to enhance the appearance and functionality of the interior environments of the library buildings
• Support branch and relocation or remodeling to ensure modern facilities serving all areas of the city.

Become a Friend! Print out the application form and send it in with payment. You'll receive confirmation in the mail, the Friends newsletter, and sneak-preview access to Friends' sponsored book sales. You may choose to receive some or all of the Library's newsletters via email. Want to help? Information about volunteer opportunities are available online at VolunteerYourTime.org.

2008-2009 Board of Directors of the Friends of the Madison Public Library:

• President - Janice Zmrazek
  Vice-President - vacant
  Secretary - Gary Poulson
  Treasurer - Karenne Giguere
  Past President - Steve Brist
  Holly Bedwell
  Carol Chapman
  Ann Falconer
  Anne Rauh
  Director Emeritus - Barbara Arnold

Friendshop manager:

Lynn Bucher

Upcoming Board Meetings

• September 15, 2008
• November 17, 2008
• January 26, 2009
• March 16, 2009

Board meetings are usually held in room 201 in the Central Library at 201 West Mifflin from 5 - 7 p.m. and are open to the public.

Branch Friends' contacts:

Each of the branches of the Madison Public Library has a local Friends group that is active in providing monetary and volunteer support for projects and facility improvements at that branch. Branch Friends groups have over the years helped fund-raise for remodeled branch facilities, provided support for branch programming, helped purchase furniture and equipment that was otherwise not possible, and added special items to the branch collections.

Contact persons for each of the Friends groups are listed below:

• Alicia Ashman - Jodi Schappe
• Hawthorne - Martha Florey
• Lakeview - Barbara Karlen
• Meadowridge - Lynn Lemanski
• Monroe Street - Carol Schroeder
• Pinney - Joanne Johnson
• Sequoya - Nadine Pfotenhauer
• South Madison - Julie Yearling and MaryAnn Mayhew

Inquiries about the Friends of the Madison Public Library can be made to:
Carol Sawyer
MPL Administration
266-6342