|
ABOUT US
|
The mission
of the Friends of the Merced County Library is to
enhance, focus public attention on, and generate community
support for Library services, facilities, and other
needs in Merced County. The Friends, a non-profit
organization for over 50 years, became a 501(c)3 non-profit
in 1974.
The Friends’
annual budget supports programs and services at all13
branches of the Merced County Library. The Friends
fund:
- Summer Reading events
and prizes
- 1000 Books before
Kindergarten
- Other events and
programs for children and for youth
- Physical needs such
as new furniture, security boxes, and landscaping
- Lots of new books
and media every year
- Author visits and
programs for every audience
|
|
The
Friends selected a new and better bookmobile as their
long-term goal in 2017 and have been saving about $10,000
a year towards the goal since then. Unfortunately in
May 2019, the current bookmobile developed generator
problems so the long-term goal become a more immediate
need. The Friends meet their annual budget through donations,
memberships, fundraisers and sales, and proceeds from
the
Friends’ Bookstore.
The Friends of the Merced County Library
incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
in May 1967. The Friends contributed to the dedication
of the new Merced branch in 1976 and financed the
restoration of service after the cuts in the late
1980s. When the recession in 1993 forced the County
Board of Supervisors to eliminate all Library funding,
the Friends successfully lobbied the Board to provide
one-third
of the Library’s previous level of support,
held numerous fund raisers, and trained volunteers
to replace paid staff. Thanks to a supportive community
and the Friends, the Merced County Library survived
the crisis. Since then, the Friends of the Merced
County Library has continued to champion the countywide
mission of the Library through advocacy and outreach,
dollar gifts, program support, and volunteering.
Current Board of Directors:
President
Susan Flinspach
Vice President Mary Badorine
Secretary Leigh-Ann Thornhill
Treasurer Connie Wright
Director Sharon Terry
Director Jeannette McCollum
Director Karen Albright
Director Susan Walsh
Director Diane Amussen
Director Anita Martin
Director Mary Hofmann
|
FRIENDS-LIBRARY
OPERATING AGREEMENT •
BYLAWS
• INVESTMENT
POLICY
|
