FRIENDS OF THE

MATHEWS MEMORIAL LIBRARY, INC.

Mathews County, Virginia
 

68 Maple Avenue
P.O. Box 127
Mathews, VA 23109
www.friendsofmathewslibrary.org

2011

Contact: friendsofmathewslibrary@gmail.com
Also visit:  www.mathewslibrary.org

MISSION STATEMENT

The purpose of this organization shall be to maintain an association of persons interested in libraries; to focus public attention on the library; to stimulate the use of the library’s resources and services; to receive and encourage gifts, endowments and bequests to the library; to support and cooperate with the library in developing library services and facilities for the community; and to support the freedom to read as expressed in the American Library Association Bill of Rights.

The Friends operate under a set of bylaws that can be found by clicking here.

ACTIVITIES

The Friends operate out of the Orrell Building, located to the rear of the Library. The Building houses a book store and serves as an office and meeting place for the Friends officers and executive committee.  The Friends operate entirely with volunteers. As there are no paid officers or staff, operational expenditures are kept to a minimum.

Individual donations, grants, book sales, and dues are the only sources of income. Over the past nine years the Friends have contributed over $235,000 to the Memorial Library. Financial support for the Library in 2009 was $30,700, which is roughly the average yearly support for the past five years. Those funds were used for library programs and to purchase books, audio books, computers, furnishings and equipment. Members of the Friends also contribute approximately 2,000 hours of volunteer service each year in and in support of the Library. Hundreds of additional volunteer hours were provided by the Friends in carrying out the responsibilities and projects of the organization. New volunteers for both the Library and the Friends are always welcome.

ONGOING PROJECTS

A Book Store in the Friends' Orrell Building, open 9:00am-1:00pm the first Saturday of each month following Market Days (September) until Memorial Day and then Friday and Saturday each week during the summer, offering for sale at minimal cost thousands of used books and video tapes. Most hardbacks and are trade books are $1 and paperbacks are 25 cents or five for $1. One room has books of all types for a charge of $1 for a grocery bag full. Book donations are always accepted. There is a drop box just outside the Orrell Building door, which you can see in the picture above.

A Buy-a-Brick Program, established in 2001, entailing the construction of a Brick Commemorative Patio and Walk located between the Orrell Building and the Library. Bricks honoring or memorializing clubs, individuals and families are an integral part of the patio and new names are constantly being added. Brick contributions are $100 for a 4" x  8" brick and $150 for an 8" x  8" brick. Print out the Order Form and mail, along with a check, to Friends of the Mathews Memorial Library, P.O. Box 127, Mathews, VA 23109

Book Donations, including: Healing Eagle Free Clinic of the Mattaponi Indians; Operation Paperback to our military personnel world-wide; Books to Alabama after Hurricane Isabel; Dictionaries to all third grade students at Lee-Jackson Elementary School; and books to local teachers for quiet time reading in schools.

Newsletters The Friends publish a quarterly newsletter. It is available here for downloading in Microsoft Word form. To download a copy, click on the issue you want below

HISTORY

The Friends of the Mathews Memorial Library was organized in the spring of 1982. Thanks to the efforts of Attorney Donald Bowman, the Friends was recognized by the IRS as a tax exempt, non-profit organization under IRC Section 501(c)(3).This makes all contributions to the Friends tax deductible to the greatest extent permitted by law. The new corporation is also tax exempt and non-profit under IRC Section 501(c)(3).

Updated 05 APR, 2011