Friends of the Library (FOL).  One thinks of little old ladies sorting through musty books for a library book sale.  Not anymore!

Think dinner-theater, or movie and pizza night, espresso machines, Play Station 2, painting, and landscaping.

Park County has four public libraries; Bailey, Fairplay, Guffey and Lake George; and each has its own “Friends” group. The county supports these libraries with salaries, building maintenance, technical support, and books and materials, all of the everyday expenses of running four libraries. The objective of each ”Friends” group is to support quality library service through fund-raising, volunteerism and advocacy in extra and special ways.
 
The Bailey FOL recently purchased an espresso machine that serves espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas from fresh ground beans, as well as chai teas and hot chocolates.  The Friends charge for the drinks and eventually this will become a fund raising operation.  The Bailey FOL has also purchased a Play Station 2 system and the game “Guitar Hero” for teens.  A loyal patron has donated other games.  With volunteer labor, the Bailey Friends have enhanced the outside of their library, planting and weeding flowerbeds and painting the outbuildings.

The Fairplay FOL is focusing on the new library building.   This will mean growing the Friends group to help with this exciting project.  Have you met Judge?  He is the Fairplay Library’s famous cat pampered by Friends and patrons alike.  The gardens around the current library in the old courthouse are maintained by FOL funds and the hard work of a volunteer.

The Guffey Friends are relatively new but hugely successful.  They are planning a fall production of the play “Two Holer Holler” written by local author,Pat Wiles.  Their movie and pizza night means ordering a pizza through the library and then picking it up along with one of the library’s VHS or DVD movies.

Lake George has a very large, active Friends group, which has run well for years.  They have annual fundraisers including the January Cook-off with a different theme every year, and the dinner-theater in May.  The play performed at the dinner-theater is new each year, written by the local wordsmiths.  The Lake George group also supports the “Lunch and Learn” program as well as author talks by published local authors.

All four Park County libraries are currently involved in upgrading their facilities with renovations planned in Bailey, Guffey, and Lake George libraries and a new library building in Fairplay.  The Friends organizations are central in these projects. 

It is a great time to be involved.  Libraries are beneficial to everyone from cradle to grave.  Whatever you do to help your library, you are helping all of your neighbors and your whole community.  Come be a friend.

Bailey – Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 5:00 p.m. in the library.
Fairplay – Meet the third Friday every other month, beginning with January, at the Fairplay Library at 11 a.m. 
Guffey – Meet the third Tuesday of February, May, August and November at 11 a.m. at the library.
Lake George – Meet the fourth Friday at 9:15 a.m. at the library.  Friends meeting is followed by 2 book discussion groups.