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All natural library enhancement

(by Karen F. Mrnarevic - March 19, 2008)

There is much more to the local libraries of the Pascack Valley than just books and shelves. These libraries, all members of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System, or BCCLS, offer a huge selection of materials to entertain and inform, and they are bastions of culture where learning and leisure meet. But despite generous state-mandated library funding, tax dollars can only take a library so far. That is where the Friends of the Library come in, raising funds items that might not be included in the library’s regular budget.

Across the Pascack Valley , Friends groups have contributed to the libraries in many ways: brightening up reading rooms with fresh coats of paint and new carpeting, installing wi-fi connections and adding landscaping features. They also have a hand in creating and funding some of the libraries’ fun and educational programs, which run the gamut from cooking and financial management classes to author visits and summer reading. These groups of volunteers raise money through fundraising and membership fees to support library programs and purchase materials, as well as work to raise community awareness and increase public use of the library and its resources.

Libraries that feel like home

On the cosmetic level, Friends do a number of things to spiffy-up the libraries. For instance, the Friends of the Township of Washington Library recently purchased a new bike-rack, wooden bookshelves and a pendulum clock. The Friends also help libraries stay current with up-to-the-moment technology. With the help if its Friends group, the River Vale Library recently installed a wireless Internet connection so that people with laptops can access the Internet in any area of the building, including the back patio. It also contributed greatly to the expansion of the library’s DVD collection, adding newly released movies and television shows and a large array of instructional DVDs.

The Emerson Friends purchased a screen and projector table to enhance multimedia programs, as well as a new PC, complete with Microsoft Word Suite, and installed an outside return bin for audio-visual materials. And the Hillsdale Friends has been recently occupied with sponsoring the continued digitization of the library’s “Hillsdale Herald” newsletter collection.

Preserving local history

Some Friends groups have taken the lead on projects that will benefit their communities for many years to come. The Washington Township Friends contributed to a recent renovation of the library’s history room, which holds a collection of local historical memorabilia, including maps and photographs.

It undertook a massive effort to catalog and organize the materials contained in the room, and is now organizing a project to solicit contributions to the collection from local residents. The Friends also had a hand in publishing “The Story of the Township of Washington ,” an account of the town’s rich history, which is now available for sale.  

River Vale’s Friends hosts and sponsors a number of well-attended programs, including monthly professional art exhibits and book discussion groups, “Lunch and Learn” lectures, and bus trips to points of interest in the Tri-state area.

The Hillsdale Friends contributes approximately $3,000 annually toward the library’s summer reading programs for teens and children, benefiting over 500 children. It also provided funding and support for last year's "One Day In Hillsdale" photobook project and sent 25 copies to local residents serving in the armed forces.

Where the money comes from

So how do the Friends fund all of these programs, technological updates and gifts? The answer is, they do it through the support of their membership and the donations of library patrons. All of the groups hold periodical sales of donated used books, the proceeds of which are accumulated to fund Friends-sponsored initiatives. Some Friends groups run special fundraising drives. From April 1 through April 6, the Montvale Friends will host “Dining for Dollars,” during which Café Capri in Hillsdale will donate 15 percent of diners’ bills to the Friends of the Montvale Library.

Each year, The Friends of the Washington Township Library sends out an invitation to all Township residents to participate in efforts to support the library by sending in a tax-free donation. The Emerson Friends raise funds through membership fees; individual membership is $5, family is $10, patron is $25 and benefactor is $50. And the Hillsdale Friends is running a program to encourage donations by giving members who contribute $50 an "Oops" card valued up to $25, which may be applied toward overdue fines accrued on Hillsdale Library items.

How to get involved

It is impossible to ignore the contributions that the Friends make to the libraries of the Pascack Valley . For more information regarding how to join the Friends and where and when to donate, residents can contact their library by phone or e-mail. All contact information can be easily accessed through www.bccls.org.

Karen F. Mrnarevic's e-mail address is Mrnarevic@northjersey.com.