By Khalida Sarwari
Proving that literacy is alive and well in Saratoga, earlier this month the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries opened their third satellite bookstore, this one at the Saratoga Community Center.
The group collaborated with the city to transform a blank 10-foot wall in the center’s lounge into a warm and inviting community space that offers an inventory of about 500 hardcover and paperback books, as well as audio books, sheet music and DVDs. Proceeds directly benefit the Saratoga Library.
The location seemed ideal for a bookstore because it is a gathering place for people of all ages, said former Friends president Terrie Creamer.
“I see this location as a great way to promote our Saratoga Library, to promote literacy and foster a love for reading, as well as promote the Friends’ used bookstores,” Creamer said. “I remember the many hours that other mothers and I waited in this area while our children were in their class and I would have been thrilled to be able to pick up a book to read.”
Established in 1972, the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries is a group of about 840 citizens who work together for the benefit of the Saratoga Library. Nearly 200 of the members actively assist the group with fundraising and outreach. Liz Guy, one of 11 board members, said she was driven to join by the belief that “the library is the heart of the community.”
The Friends routinely grant between $125,000 and $155,00 a year to the library, a sizable portion of which comes from their primary used bookstore, the Book-Go-Round in downtown, run by Friends volunteers and managed by Bobbi Stek. They also operate another satellite bookstore at the library called the Friends Cafe Bookstore.
The announcement about the new satellite library was made in conjunction with National Friends of Libraries Week, Oct. 18-24. The week is an opportunity for libraries across the country to recognize volunteers who fundraise and advocate for the libraries in their communities.
To celebrate, the Saratoga Library held a contest where library staff at the children’s desk gave a prize to any child who correctly solved a riddle.
Many of the services and programs offered at the Saratoga Library are supported by the Friends, said community librarian Roslyn Donald. For the 2015-16 fiscal year, the Friends granted $143,000 to the library, according to Guy. In addition, Friends members donate hours of volunteer labor, both at the library and the Book-Go-Round.
“Without Friends funds, we would not have a bestseller browsing collection for adults and teens,” Donald said. “Special performers like the Fratello Marionettes, Peter Fletcher and the Wildlife Associates would appear infrequently, if at all. Craft programs would be largely nonexistent, and we would not be able to give out free paperbacks as summer reading prizes.”
The Friends are holding a paperback book sale on Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m in the community room of the Saratoga Library. Books will be sold for a quarter on the first day of the sale and $3 for a grocery bag-full the second day.
For more information about the Friends, visit their website at fslonline.org.
