PURPOSE - The purpose of this tax-exempt nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is to provide an avenue for people interested in the library to advocate for the library and offer volunteer as well as financial support to the library.  We provide funding for library programs, such as author appearances and children's live theater performances, and the purchase of books, materials, and computers, through our dues and the monies raised by the book sales. The dues also support training events for the library staff and advocacy efforts for the library at the state and local level.

STAFF – The organization has no paid staff members but have an active board of directors. We boast a membership ranging from 500 to 700 members in any given year. The downturn in the economy in recent years has put us on the low end of the range.

BOOK SALES -  One major focus of the Friends is the overall organization and staffing of two major, week long used book sales a year, (Spring sale is in March, Fall Sale in September) and two smaller, one-day “Beach Reads” sale of mass market paperbacks in the summer. Our sales are among the most successful in NC, and attract customers from throughout the southeast.

SALE EARNINGS - Our two large semi-annual sales take in well over $100,000 per year. We estimate that we process approximately 100,000 books, videos, CDs at each sale. The leftover books are offered to nonprofits, and we are always eager to add to the group of nonprofits.

FOL VOLUNTEERS - Approximately twenty volunteers work year round, processing all the donated books, logging as many as 500 volunteer hours per month. Three weeks prior to the sale, additional volunteers begin setting out the books at the NE Branch where the sales are held. Over 100 other volunteers staff the check out area through the week of the sale, working three-hour shifts.

OUR SUPPORT - We are the only organization in New Hanover County that, through massive volunteer efforts, is able to provide our library with as much as $125,000 a year in funds to augment their government funding, from the proceeds of the book sales and money from members' dues. In this time of government cutbacks, these funds are more critical than ever.

YOUR SUPPORT - How can you help?  In addition to becoming a member of the organization, we need donations of good, clean, sellable sale merchandise.  We need volunteers for the work of the book sales both year round and in the weeks of the book sales, and new Board members to work on our programs, advocacy and the book sales.

CONTACT - Anyone interested in becoming a member can pick up a membership application at any branch of the library. If you are interested in contacting the Friends to volunteer or with a question, please go to our website, www.nhclibraryfriends.org, or call the Friends office at 798-6319 and leave a message. In either case, you will be contacted.