Everyone needs friends, even a library. And the Friends of the Centreville Regional Library provide an invaluable service by buying items the library needs, but Fairfax County doesn’t fund.
Since 2006, the Friends have raised more than $150,000 through their sales of donated books, CDs and DVDs. These proceeds paid for literacy programs for children and adults, as well as the purchase of new furniture.
“The Friends of the Centreville Regional Library provide critical support to the library,” said Branch Manager Christine Jones. “People might expect that the Friends fund ‘extras,’ such as special programs, but I think they’d be surprised to learn how much more the Friends do for their local library.”
For example, the Friends’ efforts funded youth service programs; early reader books; dramatic performances for family, teen and children’s reading programs; Summer Reading Program books and supplies, flat-screen TV and computer sign in the lobby, children’s programs and props for story time; plus subscriptions to magazines and newspapers not previously available there.
“Anyone who’s visited the Centreville Regional Library for any reason in the past four years has benefited from the work of the Friends,” said Centreville Branch Manager Christine Jones. “Over the past four years the Friends have paid to replace every chair in the building — over 200, purchased 30 tables for both the meeting room and main reading area, funded dozens of programs and events, and paid for subscriptions to more than 45 periodicals.”
But the money doesn’t come easily — the Friends earn it, 50 cents at a time, through their used-book sales, two or three times a year. And not only do those book sales help the library, but the community, too, by providing low-cost books to people who might not otherwise have books of their own.
“It’s an incredible win-win situation, but it requires a lot of organization and work on the part of our dedicated Friends,” said Jones. “Library staff and the Centreville community are very lucky that the Friends of the Centreville Regional Library give back to the community in such a practical and generous fashion.”
All these things have been accomplished by a small group of members who desperately need more help. “We have 10 active volunteers, but could easily use another 10,” said Friends volunteer Juanita Klinker.
Meetings are once a month; the volunteers scan and sort donated books, CDs and other media. The next one is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 6, at 6:30 p.m., at the library. Go to www.friendsofcentrevillelibrary.blogspot.com to check for any date and/or time changes.
“We’d love people to come to this first board meeting of the year,” said Amelia Grazioso, another Friends volunteer. “We’re really looking forward to a wider membership, especially on the board. We hope that, once people come to this January meeting and learn and observe what the board does, they’ll be so excited that they’ll want to join it.”
After all, as the population of Centreville continues to grow, there’s a rising need for the library’s services. And that’s where the Friends come in.
“The Friends raise money for many of the things on our library’s wish list that the county’s budget cannot cover,” said Friends President John Brugger. “We are a small group with big goals, but we need the help of fresh volunteers for the weekly tasks of sorting donations and conducting the sales. We need help every week and at every semi-annual sale, but welcome anyone who is interested and can help out, regardless of how often.”
Anyone interested in getting involved with the Friends may contact the organization via www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/friends/ce/ or sign up at the Centreville library’s information desk.
So why does Grazioso volunteer with them? “It’s my way of giving back,” she said. “And it’s for people to come in and love the library. English wasn’t my first language, and this library is especially a great place for people who are foreign, too, because there are wonderful resources here for them. I also get satisfaction knowing I’m doing something with real purpose for the community.”