 Friends of the Library
Programs Sponsored by the Friends
Sue Gehrz, Director
sgehrz@rclreads.org
Office: 651-486-2213
Friends Partner with Borders, Bookfair
Help Ramsey County Library by doing your holiday shopping at the Rosedale Borders Store, December 5 through December 7. Borders will donate 20 percent of net sales to the Friends. Bookfair vouchers will be available in all seven library branches and through the Friends.
 Thank you Heraeus Employees!
The Charitable Giving Committee of Heraeus Medical Components, Inc., headquartered in Vadnais Heights, donated $3,350 to the Friends of the Library to help support our work in promoting reading and education throughout Ramsey County.
According the Warren Sygulla, committee member, "We typically select different organizations to support each year with our focus on the local community. I am thankful to work at a
company that desires to give back a portion to serve the
community."
Friends' Member Honored by Ramsey County 
Lorraine Fischer, Friends' board member and secretary, was one of two individuals selected to receive the "Senior Citizen of the Year" award. Lorraine's selection shows recognition and appreciation of her many years of volunteering with Friends of the Library, Minnesota Association of Library Friends, the League of Women Voters and with her church. You might find Lorraine helping with the computer classes, or at the Friends used bookstore, Words Worth, in Maplewood. Lorraine volunteers to give
back to her community, and she would be glad to talk to anyone who is
interested in hearing more about her experiences at RCL and the other
organizations and what it means to her. Congratulations, Lorraine!
About the Friends
The Friends of the Ramsey County Library was formed in 1979 as a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the libraries in making information, books, music, and programs available to the public. We sponsor many special programs including the Summer Reading Program for children and teens, free computer classes for all ages, book clubs and author events. Our volunteers operate used book stores at the Maplewood, Roseville and Shoreview libraries to help fund our projects.
Since 1979, hundreds of Friends members, volunteers, and donors have provided more than $600,000 in funding, materials, and enhancements to Ramsey County Library.
Please join us. Friends Membership Form
Friends Book Stores
The Friends members operate stores in which you can find great bargains on used books and media materials. They are currently in the following locations:
Words Worth Book Store
Maplewood Library, 3025 Southlawn Drive
Phone 651-704-2033 ext 2108
Monday 12 – 4
Tuesday 10 – 6
Wednesday 10 – 6
Thursday 10 – 8
Friday 12 – 4
Saturday 10 – 4
Roseville Library, County Road B and Hamline
Monday – Thursday 10 – 9
Friday – Saturday 10 – 5
Sunday 12 – 5
Shoreview Library, 4570 N. Victoria Street
Monday 10 – 9
Tuesday – Wednesday 1 – 9
Thursday - Saturday 10 – 5
Sunday 12 - 5
You can donate gently used books to these bookstores to help support your libraries. Label them for the “Friends” and drop them off at any Ramsey County Library.
The IRS only permits tax deductions for donation of items that are in good condition. If in doubt, ask whether you would offer the item to a friend or relative. If the answer is yes, then it is an appropriate donation.
The Friends cannot accept the following items:
| | |
| · | books that are moldy, mildewed, odiferous, stained, yellowed, excessively underlined, written in or highlighted |
| · | books with broken spines, missing pages, torn or missing covers |
| · | textbooks, reference books and encyclopedias that are more than 10 years old |
| · | computer or business materials that are more than five years old |
| · | magazines |
| · | Reader’s Digest condensed books |
| · | vinyl records (45 or 33 1/3 rpm) |
| · | pirated audio-visual material |
Proceeds from the sales at these book stores are used to support programs and services at your local library. Thank you for your support!
Donate Used Cell Phones
Did you know that cell phones are toxic waste? Just one device in a landfill can contaminate over 150,000 gallons of ground water. Don't toss your old cell phones; bring them to the library for recycling. You can protect the environment and help the Friends raise money for library programs and services.
Collection boxes are located in all seven Ramsey County Libraries: Arden Hills, North St. Paul, Maplewood, Mounds View, Roseville, Shoreview and White Bear Lake. All makes and models of cell phones are accepted.
Donated phones are refurbished or recycled with all toxic waste materials removed and the memory will be completely erased. Please leave batteries in place and have the phone in the unlocked position so the data erasure function may be performed.
Thank You Best Buy Foundation!
The Friends received a $20,000 grant from Best Buy Children's Foundation to support a new online tutoring program for children and teens at all Ramsey County Library locations. Tutor.com will provide live homework help for students in grades four through 12. Students can access one-on-one live tutoring using Internet resources from home or at the libraries. Joe Skelly, former Friends Director, worked with Jason Flom, General Manager of the Best Buy in Maplewood, to obtain this grant.
We Need You
The Friends organization needs volunteers of all ages to help with planning programs, building membership, raising money, organizing donations and public relations. If you are interested in sharing your ideas or serving on a planning committee, please call Sue Gehrz at 651-486-2213.
Honor Someone Special
Make a gift to the Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries in the name of someone who is special to you. We will recognize them and you in our next newsletter. By making a donation, you will join many of your neighbors as a supporter of our local libraries and automatically become a member of the Friends organization.
Friends Sponsor Professional Development
Thanks to the Alice Jo Carlson Professional Development Fund sponsored by the Friends, 27 library staff members were able to attend the Public Library Association national conference held in Minneapolis this March. In addition, one staff member was able to attend the American Library Association conference in Washington D.C.
Continued professional education is essential for our staff to be able to plan, develop and use state-of-the art methods for providing a wide range of library services. According to reference librarian and volunteer coordinator, Heidi Holland, "Attending this conference helped me learn how to make more meaningful connections between our patrons of all ages and our library programs, collections and classes."
"PLA was very valuable for me," says North St. Paul branch manager, Carol Jackson. "I was able to attend a number of interesting workshops and learn from others' experiences, as well as discover new ideas and practices."
Library staff is very grateful for this opportunity and appreciates the Friends' dedication to enriching the Ramsey County Library system.
Friends Board Meetings
2009 Meeting Schedule
Mondays, 6:30 p.m.
RCL - Maplewood
January 12
April 13
July 13
October 12
Friends members and the public are welcome.
Board Members:
Nancy Guerino, President
Peter Hilger, Vice-President
Doug Smith, Treasurer
Pauline Zweber, Historian
Lynn Belgea
Mary Ellen Carlson
Pat Carruth
Barb Crassweller
Catherine Croghan
Lorraine Fischer
Ann Fitch
Metta Fridley
Edna Georgius
Ann Haase
Mary Anne Lindberg
Mary Daley Meyer
Kerri Miller
Ellie Nicklawske
Joe Skelly
Mary Smith
Susan Thibedeau
Jan Wolff
|
