Members of the Friends of the Oglethorpe County Library have been volunteering, leading fundraisers and holding events for years to help the local library.
While the group’s library efforts are the priority, it has also helped children in other ways.
“Anything that we can do to encourage and support literacy in our local county is going to improve the quality of life of every single individual,” said Babs DeArmond, president of the Friends of the Oglethorpe County Library. “A child who learns to read and loves to read has the world open to them.”
This focus on countywide literacy is one of the motivating factors for summer and winter library reading programs. These programs provide a space for youth — from preschool to high school — to read a variety of books and learn about the importance of libraries.
“It’s just a delight to see the joy when the kids come in every week, and they have their little reading log in hand, and they say, ‘I read 10 more books, and I get a prize,’” DeArmond said. “They’re just thrilled to have reached that goal. To see the joy of children reading is great.”
Members of the Friends also volunteer at Oglethorpe County Community Day during the summer, where they give free books and gifts to children.
“We raise money so we can help fund things the library doesn’t have the money for or can’t spend money on,” said Tom Gresham, vice president of the group. “We try to raise thousands of dollars to help the library out. Additionally, we provide labor for certain things. There’s a lot of grunt work that can be done by volunteers, so several of our folks put in a lot of volunteer hours behind the scenes.”
Library fundraisers scheduled
Two fundraisers are scheduled to benefit the Oglethorpe County Library at No. 3 Railroad Street.
The fourth Book Sale and Art Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Local jewelry makers, soap makers, wreath makers, are among the 17 artists and craftspeople who have signed up for the event. Organizer Peggy Hroma said a craftsman who makes swings, a person who makes animals and jewelry from gourds and two watercolor artists have tables.
Table fees are $15, which go to the library. Artists keep what they sell.
The Friends of the Library will host its annual Christmas Bazaar and Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, also at No. 3 Railroad Street.
Books, wreaths, ornaments and more will be available.
For more information, go to 3railroad.org/booksale/booksale.php.