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Welcome back!
It seemed like a long time when we decided in October not to meet in November and December, but the weeks just flew by (for me, anyway) and here we are, January 2024! I'm ready to jump into the new year and make it another good one for the Alma Library and its Friends. I hope you are, too. Below is a brief recap of what we did in 2023.
ALF (Alma Library Friends) accomplishments in 2023
Library Open House--a big success with more than 250 people attending
ALF Used Book Sale--a HUGE success that raised almost $9,000
Cemetery Tour--another success that raised over $1,600
Added 30 sign-ups to our Friends mailing list, bringing total to 80 names
Funds raised in 2023 are going toward much needed shelving in the children's section and also to the purchase of at least two comfortable reading chairs by the library fireside
But it's not about the money
Well, okay, yes it is, but only partly. We don't just want to raise funds. Raising awareness of and generating support for the central role the Alma Public Library plays in our community is equally important. I ran across this quote about libraries the other day, and I think it's very true.
"A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life raft, and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination . . . They are the only sheltered public spaces where you are not a consumer, but a citizen instead." -- Caitlin Moran
What's coming in 2024?
At our October 2023 brainstorming meeting we came up with lots of project ideas for the year ahead. The ALF board met in December to review the list and in conjunction with Lorrie Taylor, our library director, we settled on four projects.
Library Open House--April
ALF Used Book Sale--September
Alma City Commissions Candidate Forum--October
A fundraising tour of historic downtown Alma--TBD
There was also strong interest in trying some programming for adults to give more people more reasons to come to the library. The suggestion that drew the most support was a short course in genealogy research, with limited enrollment so that participants could have a hands-on experience. More to come on that.
First meeting of the year is Thursday, Jan. 25th, 5:30 p.m. at the library
If you can, please come to the meeting and bring a friend. The focus will be on organizing for the open house in April. We need your ideas and enthusiasm to make it another great community event. Attached are an agenda for the Jan. 25 meeting, and the minutes from our October 2023 meeting.
If you have any questions, hit reply to this email or give me a call, 989-620-0272. I hope to see you Thursday, Jan 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Alma Public Library.
Susan
Susan Hunter, Chair Alma Library Friends
A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. ~Andrew Carnegie