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What Is The Friends of RHPL?

The Friends of the Library is an organization that is dedicated to building a close relationship between the library and its patrons. Among the purposes of the organization are the following:

1. Promote knowledge of and informed interest in the library’s functions, resources, services and needs.

2. Encourage community participation in library activities.

3. Raise funds for projects, activities or acquisitions in excess of those provided for by the general library budget at the discretion of the Friends 2008 Board of Directors.

4. Provide support for programs for the extension and improvement of library services and resources.

We achieve our goals primarily through membership dues and fund raising. To read more about what Friends has done for the library recently, click here.

Why Join The Friends?

Membership in the Friends is open to any person or organization interested in the purposes the Friends have established. Through payment of membership dues, you help the Friends achieve many of our goals. Beyond that though, what’s in it for you?

• Friends members are eligible to attend the Friends Preview night of all Used Book Sales, having the opportunity to get first choice at the prime books.

• Friends members receive a 10% discount on all purchases at the Friends Library Store.     

• Friends members receive the twice yearly newsletter filled with news about the activities of the organization and offering a coupon for additional savings at the Friends Library Store.

• Friends members help make possible the FREE programs that make the RHPL such a tremendous asset to our community.

What’s Involved in Being a Friend?

You don’t have to do anything once you’ve paid your dues. You can sit back and enjoy the benefits. But if you’d like to feel that you’re contributing more to your library and your community, there are a number of ways in which you can do that.

Everything the Friends does is done by volunteers. The Friends Used Book Sales? All run and coordinated by a hard-working, dedicated and fun-loving group of people who have made our Used Book Sales the envy of libraries far and wide. You can help, and we’d love to have you join us!

The Friends Library Store? Managed and staffed entirely by volunteers who know the importance of unique, high-quality items and personal, friendly customer service. You can help, and we’d love to have you join us!  

What about the annual Friends Holiday Home Tour (formerly the Holly Walk)? 100% volunteer organized and run for 15 years by people who take time out of their busy pre-holiday schedules to bring the community one of its most memorable yearly events. You can help, and we’d love to have you join us!

You can help! We are always looking for people who want to get involved in the good work we are doing. When you fill out your Friends membership application form, which is available on-line, in the store and in the Library, just indicate what you might like to do. Or call the Friends Membership line, 248/ 650-7160, and leave a message indicating in what areas you’re most interested. You can also stop by the Friends Store and fill out an application to work there, or call the Used Book Sale line, 248/650-7178, for information on how you can help with the sales.

2007 Annual Meeting

Tom Stanton, award winning author of numerous baseball books, most recently Ty and the Babe, was the featured speaker at the Friends Annual Meeting in October. The gathered crowd was thoroughly entertained by this New Baltimore resident who like so many of us, “grew up worshipping our baseball God, Al Kaline.” At the end of the meeting, a long line of admirers waited to speak with Tom and get an autographed book.

Preceding this fascinating look into the lives of some of baseball’s great icons, Grace Preston presented her annual report to the Friends. She detailed the many achievements of the group this year, including a contribution of $116,000 to the library. These funds were used for our second-to-last payment on the bookmobile, additional books for the wildly popular Peek-A-Book kiosk in the children’s department, the Sunday Concerts, Saturday Story Times, book bags for new moms and their babies, Authors in April, Reading is Fundamental services – even a Staff Appreciation Luncheon during National Library Week.

Preston reminded listeners that the board voted to honor a former president of the Friends, the late John Kruse, by instituting a scholarship in his name. Jody Wolak is the first recipient of this annual award.

The 2007 Annual Scholarship Awards were presented by Linda Pannuto, scholarship committee chairperson, and Grace Preston. The 2007 Friends Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Sharon Muir. And Pauline Barlow and Ann Gruenewald were honored with a plaque identifying the used book sorting room as the Barlow/Gruenewald Book Room.(See related articles.)




Tom Stanton signs copies of his book.

Pauline Barlow and Ann Gruenewald stand outside the book room that now bears their names.

Friends Holiday Home Tour

The 2007 Holiday Home Tour was a qualified success. With dire weather predictions keeping many away, we still had a lively group visit this year’s outstandingly decorated homes. Thank you to the homeowners who so graciously allowed us to visit and who put so much time and effort into preparing their homes for this special day. They include:

Sally and Rich Brian
Kris Guillou
Carol Hanson and Chuck Ludwig
Bela and Stacey Kogler
Mike and Jane Wellman

Thank you also to our sponsors who helped to defray the costs of this event. We would not have been able to stage such a lovely event without their financial assistance. Thanks to:

The PrivateBank
Innatech Corporation
Pixley Funeral Home
Dillman & Upton
Brian Tyler, DDS of University Dental Associates
Golden Eagle Restaurant
Lytle Pharmacy
Sunrise Assisted Living Rochester

Thank you to the donors who, through their contributions of food and gift certificates, helped to make the reception at the library such a tasty and festive event. They include:

Kroger’s at Silverbell and Adams
Busch’s Market at Walton and Adams
Trader Joe’s
Knapp’s Doughnuts
Bruegger’s Bagels at University and Livernois
Kroger’s at University and Livernois
Hollywood Market at Rochester and Tienken 

Finally, thank you to the many supporters of the Holiday Home Tour who worked tirelessly to pull everything together. Thank you to all the committees and committee heads, the house captains and docents and to:

The Friends Library Store
Ellen Kieta – Rochester Hills Public Library
Brewster Elementary School
Oakland Twp. – Paint Creek Cider Mill
Civil Air Patrol – Selfridge Cadet Squadron
Ami Burns
Nancy Carlysle
Nancy Stocking
Bordine Nursery
Sharon ’s Hallmark  

We look forward to a great Holiday Home Tour next year!

2008 Holiday Home Tour  

Plans will soon be underway for the 2008 Holiday Home Tour. If you would be interested in working on the committee, or if you or someone you know would like to have your home on the tour, please call the Friends at 248.650-7176 and leave a message. Or stop by the Friends Library Store and leave your name and number there for Grace Preston. Someone will get back to you!

Friends Used Book Sales

Used Book Sales are held in the library multipurpose room three times a year. All proceeds from the sales are used to fund library programs, activities and equipment purchases. Although the sales take place for five days three times a year, a dedicated group of volunteers led by Ann Gruenewald works year ‘round. They sort and clean books. They offer them on E-bay. They make arrangements for donations to needy organizations. They set up the sale and assist customers in numerous ways.  

If you’d like to help, call the Used Book Sale line, 248/650-7178.  

Used Book Cart  

Throughout the year, you may see the Friends Used Book Cart in the lobby of the library, stocked with books, videos and CDs. Some people refer to it as our “Mini-Used Book Sale.”  If you’re a used book sale junkie, this is your opportunity to buy books in the times between our “full-sized” book sales. Watch for it before and after special programs and on weekends.  

Friends Library Store  

The store, which is operated entirely by volunteers, is a gift boutique located in the lobby of the library. It stocks everything from Michigan-themed giftware and accessories, Pewabic tiles and vases, and unique home décor items, to novel children’s toys, bookends and rock and mineral specimens. The store recently joined the Webkinz craze and now stocks the plush toys that kids love and care for as virtual pets on the Internet.

The mission of the Friends Library Store is to provide merchandise which fulfills the educational, informational, recreational and cultural interests of the community served by the library.  

Are you interested in working in the store? Volunteers are needed to work just 3 - 4 hours a week, especially Tuesday evenings and Saturdays. Contact Wynn at 248/650-3731.

Store Celebrates 15 Years in Business

The ladies and gentlemen at the Friends Store certainly know how to celebrate. In this case, it’s the 15th Anniversary of the store. About forty members of the all-volunteer staff gathered recently to mark the occasion. Pictured below are some of them. Do you see some familiar faces?



Nine of the volunteers were recognized at the Volunteer Appreciation luncheon for having been with the store for all of its fifteen years. They include: Barbara Bell, Pat Bracewell, Ami Burns, Diane Greig, Doris Griffis, Gladys Scheri, Helen Uygur, Pam Strzalka and Janice Heller. Joyce Meinhardt, who has volunteered at the store for ten years, received a pewter “Friends” pin in appreciation for her dedication.

Darlene Tomczyk, the store manager, was thanked by Friends president Grace Preston and presented with a bouquet of orange roses, which are said to symbolize appreciation.

STORE NEWS

Merchandise is priced right, with extra savings through frequent promotions. Plus, Friends members always get 10% off their entire purchase. Store volunteers get 15% off.

The Store is desperately in need of volunteers for Saturday shifts. If you have 3 or 4 hours available once a week, please call Wynn at 248-650-3731. We're friendly, we're fun and we're a great place to work!

Webkinz Are Here!!!
Webkinz, plush toys that kids love and care for as virtual pets on the Internet have arrived at the Friends Library Store! They’re doing their best at the store to keep up with the demand. As supplies sell out, watch for “Webkinz Are Here” signs on the store window whenever you’re in the library to know a new supply has arrived.

 

Talk to Us About Volunteering

The store is run entirely by volunteers. If you have 3 – 4 hours free once a week to work, why not contact Wynn Stubenvoll at the store, 650-7179 or 650-3731. Make some new friends, work in a pleasant environment, enjoy a 15% discount on purchases in the store, and support the efforts of the Friends to help maintain the first class programs and services of our library. Daytime, weekend and evening shifts are available.  

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Friends of RHPL Scholarship  

The Friends offers a one-year scholarship for students currently enrolled in an accredited Masters of Library and Information Science program. Applicants must live or work in the greater Rochester area.

Scholarship application forms may be requested by phone at 248/ 650-7179. They are also available in the Friends Library Store and on-line. 

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How to Contact Us     Friends Membership    248/650-7160     Friends Events   248/650-7176     Friends Store   248/650-7179     Used Book Sale   248/650-7178     Main Library   248/656-2900 Email Us!