Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call, and the Friends of Libraries will be there to help! Carole King lyrics aside, we wanted to give Friends of Libraries groups across the state an effusive and grateful thank you this National Friends of Libraries Week. These groups are essential to the vitality and growth of libraries across Mississippi. Registered as charitable organizations with the Secretary of State's office, Friends groups do a lot of nitty-gritty work for libraries. They are heavily focused on fundraising, yes, but also on connecting the community with their local library through hands-on volunteer work. We encourage you to reach out to your local library to join their Friends group. If they don't have a Friends group, you might consider starting one for them. Work with your library and use the resources listed here to start a Friends group or help your current group grow.
If you're already involved and think your Friends group is amazing, you should nominate them for one of two annual awards given by the Friends of Mississippi Libraries yearly at the Mississippi Library Association annual conference. Nominations typically begin each August.
This year's winner of the Chapter One Award, given to a local Friends group for outstanding volunteer contributions in the area of service to libraries during the year, went to the Friends of Winona-Montgomery County Library and was accepted by president and former librarian Virginia “Bootsie” Weed. Under her leadership, the Winona-Montgomery Friends funded a wildly successful community gardening extravaganza led by Felder Rushing during this year's National Library Week. Aside from hosting this and many other author events for adults, the Winona-Montgomery Friends have also assisted with programs for children. The library's annual pajama party wouldn't have been the same without their gift and snack bags. This Friends group also supplied much-needed blinds for the library's meeting room, adding versatility and a new look for the space.
The winner of this year's Ruby Assaf Presidential Award, which honors an outstanding individual volunteer for a local Friends chapter, was Friends of Madison Library president Jean Garrett. She is an active patron of the Madison Library and frequently recruits new members for their Friends group. Also on the Board of Trustees, Garrett has driven the effort for exterior repair and cosmetic work at the library and has now turned her gaze to the interior of the building. She also led a grassroots effort to persuade the Mississippi legislature to leave access to public libraries unfettered.
Another great resource for Friends groups in Mississippi is the annual, competitive Margaret Murray Grant. This grant honors former MLC employee, Margaret Murray, who helped start over 100 local Friends groups in Mississippi. This grant is currently open and receiving applications. Funds awarded should be used to advance library programming and literacy at the Friends' library. The application deadline is February 29, 2024; grantees will be announced April 1, 2024.
If you want to get more involved in the impact your public library has on its community, the Friends will be there, yes, they will. (Sadly, songwriter and singer extraordinaire Carole King will not actually be there.)
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