The Houston branch of the Texas County Library is looking for more “friends.”
County library system director Molly Shelton said Houston’s “Friends of the Library” (FOL) organization is in need of more volunteer manpower. The FOL group’s goal is enhancement of the library through funding and public relations.
Shelton said the Houston FOL currently has 10 members, six of whom are active.
“They feel like they have a good handle on the fundraisers and activities they’re going to do, and they’ve done a good job raising money, keeping track of it and figuring out how they’re going to keep doing that moving forward,” Shelton said, “but they just don’t have enough manpower to facilitate that kind of thing or to come up with new ideas. You’re not going to progress if you just have the same people and they’re all tired and bogged down.
“They’ve done a great job, but our main focus right now is trying to increase membership.”
FOL groups also operate in Cabool, Licking and Summersville. All proceeds from sales of “gently used” books and various fundraisers are given to the library. Donations are tax deductible.
The Houston FOL regularly conducts two book sales and two “trivia night” events each year. The group also helps organize activities for kids at Halloween, Christmas and Easter, and helps fund the library’s youth summer reading program.
Membership in the Houston FOL costs $5 per year. The group holds general meetings at the library (on Walnut Street in downtown Houston) at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, and its officers meet on the first Wednesday.
Shelton said a “patron appreciation day” will take place on an as yet undetermined date in September, and the event will double as an FOL membership drive.
“These are people who really do things that benefit the library, and that benefits the community,” Shelton said. “They’re really hoping to find some people who would like to help.”
For more information about getting involved, call the Houston library at 417-967-2258 or log onto www.texascountylibrary.lib.mo.us.