The Friends have been very busy since we first started in September 2007. To date, we have raised over $40,000 primarily from book sales and memberships. Here are some of the things we’ve done and how we’ve used some of that money.

• Thousands of donated books are regularly sorted and stored for the major Used Book Sales events held twice each year in addition to daily sales of used books on carts in the lobby of the Library.

• Sponsored the Scholastic Book Fair held in conjunction with the summer reading program.

• During the summer of 2009, a number of Friends volunteered to improve the area surrounding the Library by weeding, trimming, and planting of colorful annuals.

• In May 2009, book totes were made available for purchase at the Circulation Desk of the Library.

The Friends provided assistance for the following requests of the Library:

• A Nintendo Wii entertainment system and related software for Teen Services.

• Headphones were provided for each of the 29 computers available to Library patrons. Previously one set was shared by all.

• Sponsored four special evening programs during the fall and winter 2008-2009 season for Youth Services.

• Helped establish an “Early Literacy Corner” for Youth Services, including an alphabet rug, train table and small train set and magnet board. These items nurture narrative skills and print awareness.

• In celebration of National Library week, April 2009, the Friends provided 2 free memberships and two $10 gift certificates for the used book sale as prizes for the daily drawings held by Adult Services.

• Provided Adult Services with seventy-five $5 gift cards to local establishments for Library patrons who participated in the adult summer reading program.

• In June 2009, the Friends funded the purchase of two Early Literacy Stations at a cost of $5600 at the request of Youth Services. These are off-line computer stations with educational and entertaining computer programs for children.

• An annual subscription to the monthly book review magazine “BookPage”. Each month, 100 copies are available in the Library and are free on a first-come first-served basis.

• Provide refreshments for events held by Adult Services such as the visit by the authors of the cookbook “Freshmen in the Kitchen” and the very informative seminar “Calm Your Financial Nerves”.

In addition to all of these activities, the Friends have donated surplus unsold textbooks to China Outreach Ministries, who sort and distribute them where needed. We’ve also donated surplus unsold hardcover books to the Art Department at Walled Lake Northern High School for their “altered books” art projects. A poetry reading was done at the West Winds Nursing Home, at their request, during their Thanksgiving “Family Night”. We have also supplemented their library with a variety of surplus books and videotapes.

Friends have purchased a computer and printer for use in their day-to-day activities, including keeping the membership and collectibles books listings up to date, and preparing and printing various flyers and mailings.