This time of year is magical- the leaves change, transforming the landscape into a brilliant canvas of colors; the Holiday Season looms on the horizon, promising good food, good times with family and friends, and often, time for reflection. This time of year inspires a thoughtful consideration of all the things around us for which we can be thankful.
William Arthur Ward said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” Fontana Regional Library has a lot to be grateful for and, though we feel thankful year round, we want to take advantage of this time of year to express our gratitude to all of our supporters. Throughout the month of November, we’ll be giving thanks to the many people who make our public libraries possible.
A Big “THANK YOU” to Our Friends of the Library Organizations
To start, we’d like to recognize the Friends of the Library, who are tireless in their support of our member libraries. Our Friends support the library’s programs and collections, with their donations nearly completely funding our collections budgets for new media and supporting the many programs that are held throughout the year at our libraries. The Friends also act in a volunteer capacity to shelve and repair books, support library programs, and so much more.Outstanding Friends of the Library
Photo from Friends of NC Public Libraries Annual Recognition Meeting
Margaret Andrews has served as Manager of the Macon County Friends of the Library Bookstore, a “brick and mortar” bookstore in Franklin, NC for more years than she can keep track of. Prior to becoming the bookstore manager, Margaret was a Macon County Friends of the Library Board member and helped to draft the initial By-laws for the organization. She has also served a term as Board President of the FOL.
Margaret has been a Friend since moving to Franklin and has lived through the relocation of the bookstore three times. She has dedicated herself to the mission of the Friends organization and is the epitome of volunteerism. She can almost always be found at the Bookstore – or in the storage sheds – culling, sorting, cleaning, pricing and shelving books and coordinating the assignment of like tasks to other volunteers. She is there to be sure that there is a constant turnover of stock and that new materials are on display. Every book is cleaned before it is put out for sale and, because of Margaret, the inventory stays organized. She is there with a smile and with laughter, to work right alongside her volunteer staff.
She is there whenever the cash register, air conditioner, furnace, window shades, lighting, plumbing, or anything else breaks down. She has saved many a dime by having her husband, Monty, see to many maintenance issues. Even on Sunday afternoons you will find her working at the store alone with her music playing in the background.
Visitors to the area and first time customers almost always have positive remarks about the Friends of the Macon County Public Library Bookstore. Store customers comment about how they like the way the books are organized and displayed. Margaret has often met with other Friends of the Library organizations from neighboring towns, and from Georgia, who have asked for advice and coaching on how to open and run a store like ours. Credit for a very successful non-profit business of selling donated books, and materials goes to Margaret Andrews for her dedication and volunteerism and an outstanding job managing the FOL Bookstore.
Thank you Margaret for all that you do!
If you'd like to volunteer for one of our Friends of the Library Organizations, contact your local library or their friends.