A year ago, the Montgomery City Public Library’s Friends of the Library organization was formed to help make a big impact in the Montgomery County community.

On April 16, the Friends of the Library got to share its mission during its first welcome meeting at the MCPL community room. The event had 21 people in attendance, including five board members and director Gaylee Harris, and had a presentation of officers.

The officer team includes president Anna Powell, president-elect Lynn Arens, secretary Ellen Kolling and treasurer Shannon Brock. Powell, Arens and Brock are also part of the FOL steering committee.

“We’re excited about the possibilities and how we can help the board and Gaylee create the library for this community that we keep thinking about and hoping for,” Brock said.

The non-profit organization was formed last year by Harris and MCPL board members Pat Garrett, Jim Guffie and Angel Davis as a way to help the library become an essential place for the Montgomery County area. The steering committee – which also includes Dave Teeter, Dhara Jethwa, Beth Beattie and Beth Cobb – was later formed.

“There are a lot of different people with varied backgrounds who bring their talents and skills to help build an even more awesome library than we already have,” Garrett said. “We think we have an awesome library, but there are things that we always want and we’re just not quite able to get there. That’s one of the reasons we formed the Friends of the Library.”

During the meeting, Brock and Powell talked to the audience about the FOL’s three goals – advocate, volunteer and fundraise. The organization plans to help support the library by getting volunteers, promoting the library’s services to the public and helping fund library programs by having fundraisers.

“The board members did a great job in pushing us in the right direction as to what they would like to see from the Friends of the Library,” Powell said. “Every year, they put out a survey for people who come to the library for the patrons and then get all of this feedback about what people are enjoying at the library and what they like to see more of. Our goals come from that survey and what people in the community want to see.”

The FOL held a book sale on April 13 which raised $566.75. The day before, the organization held an early access period in which FOL members became the first patrons to purchase books before they are sold to the public.

“It’s a big fundraiser for us,” Powell said. “It’s something that we can count on twice a year.”

Since Harris took over as director in 2021, the library has added many programs for patrons of all ages. It also has the Creation Station Makerspace – which includes a VR headset, a digital computer and a scanner – and the Library of Things – which includes an ice cream maker and a GoPro camera.

Powell said the FOL’s next mission is to try to help patrons learn how to operate the many items that are at the library.

“We may not have somebody who is either on staff or in our group who knows how to use something like that very well,” she said. “I know people in the community who own one of these in their own home, but maybe they will be willing to come and teach a class on how to use it. Then, more people will feel comfortable coming into the library to use these items on their own.”

The Friends of the Library also has a membership drive that is divided into five levels – individual ($25), family ($75), supporter ($250), contributor ($500) and benefactor ($1,000). Members will get items such as vinyl stickers, koozies and tote bags.