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They have helped build libraries in Cheney and Medical Lake, supported critical ballot issues affecting regionwide library services and sponsored book sales that have brought the illumination of reading into homes across Spokane County.
The group itself is known as Friends of the Library – a volunteer-based organization represented at each of the 10 branches within the Spokane County Library District. In greater Spokane Valley, Friends of the Library provides support at the Argonne branch in Millwood, Otis Orchards and the Spokane Valley Library on Main, west of Pines.
Ellen Miller, branch services manager with SCLD, calls the program “the voice of the community,” a service that provides valuable support to the district’s ongoing efforts to emphasize literacy and cultural enrichment.
“They are a highly valued part of what we do,” Miller said.
Miller gives credit to residents in the West Plains area for raising awareness among municipal leaders that led to the establishment of the Cheney Library in 1988 and the Medical Lake Library in 1991. In both cases, groups were able to generate local matching funds for federal grants that supported construction.
“Those communities really rallied for their libraries,” Miller said.
Volunteers with Friends of the Library were also instrumental in the launch of branches in Deer Park and Fairfield, Miller added. In some instances, groups provide funds to improve reading programs or make upgrades at buildings. In Spangle, a citizen-based effort led to annexation of the city to SCLD in March.
“These are strong, active volunteers who care about their communities and understand the importance of library services,” Miller said.
Arlene Bittrick has been volunteering with the Otis Orchards Friends of the Library committee for the past 10 years. The group has helped raise funds to purchase furniture, books and frames for artwork and also decorates for various holidays.
“The library is an important part of the community,” Bittrick said. “Our group is just trying to help promote the good they do.”
Spokane Valley was the most recent SCLD branch to form a Friends of the Library group, a move that came about in 2004 after the Spokane Valley City Council began discussions about transferring the task of library management from SCLD to private companies like Library Systems and Services Inc.
The idea of “managed competition” didn’t sit well with residents like Larry and Mayo Sayrs, a Spokane Valley couple who believed SCLD shouldn’t be part of a bidding war over the continuation of library services. Around 50 people joined the inaugural Spokane Valley Friends of the Library with a goal of supporting the district.
“There was nothing in place before,” said Mayo. “The major part of the conversation had to do with saving our library.”
While the newly formed group had to monitor its political activities in order to keep its nonprofit status, another committee – consisting of many from Friends of the Library – picketed outside City Hall and attended City Council meetings, expressing their opposition to any talk of disregarding SCLD.
By November 2004, the City Council had voted to approve a contract with SCLD. In May of the following year, nearly 87 percent of voters within Spokane Valley supported the annexation of the city to the library district.
These days, the Sayrs and other members of the Valley Friends have replaced their picket signs with price stickers as they prepare for one of two book sales this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. The next sale will take place in October.
Mayo said the local group – now over 100 volunteers strong – provides extra support that contributes to the overall success of the library.
“It would be nice if anything I did helped more people read,” she said.
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By
Craig Howard
