Gibson Memorial Friends of the Library membership drive
The Gibson Memorial Library Friends of the Library group is hosting their membership drive through the month of August.
Friends of the Library memberships run yearly, starting from Aug. 1 through July 31 of the following year. Membership perks include: three week book checkout, four day DVD/VHS checkout and three day grace period on fines.
Memberships are as follows: Students $3, Individual $10, Family $20, Contributor $60, Sustaining member- $100 and Patron $200.
The Gibson Memorial Library Director and staff would like to thank the Friends of the Library for all that they do every year, every day, to help raise funds to improve its Library’s collection and services.
About Gibson Memorial Library’s ‘Friends of the Library’
Friends of the Library’s origins date back to March 1996, whene mentioned in the meeting minutes was, “A Friends of the Library group is in the making, with (board member Don) Hall offering to assist in its beginnings.” Then secretary Kris Kerrigan wrote, “Various corporation representatives, bankers and an attorney have been asked to serve on the start-up committee.”
In June 1996, she recorded that “The Friends of the Library met to get acquainted and to discuss and develop their by-laws…” and would meet again that month.
In the 1997 minutes, there are several passing references to the Friends and in April 1998, the minutes noted that a “reorganization” of the FOL would be attempted, and that the Friends would need their own bank account. Not long after that, longtime Library Director, Carol Stanger, resigned for the director position in Atlantic.
It was in 1999, under the tenures of librarians Sonya Breen and Diana Dillinger, that the first reports of constructive activities by the friends appear. That year, they footed the bill for a survey on library use published in the Creston News Advertiser and in 2000 the friends had a float in the Balloon Days parade and began their tradition of serving cider and donuts in the depot during the Christmas parade. By that time, the Friends met monthly, initially in the council chambers and then at the congregate meal site.
In July 2000, officers were nominated and the first president was Lynne Schlaht, Vice-president was Bonnie Tighe, Joan Luttge was secretary and DeeAnn Stults was treasurer. Individual memberships were $5 annually, $10 for families and in 2000 the friends boasted 100 members with Petznick’s recognized as the first lifetime member on the basis of a $1,000 donation to the group.
The officers secured recognition by the IRS as 501(c)3 organization in August 2000, and that December filed their articles of incorporation with the Iowa Secretary of State.
For nearly 20 years, the Friends have hosted fundraising events such as the Valentine’s Day cookie bouquets, Balloon Days and Scholastic book sale events and have used those funds to build and maintain the library’s resources.
Visit the Friends of the Library Facebook page for more information or visit the library's website at https://www.creston.lib.ia.us/.