At Sherwood, Library Non-Profits Talk Budget Cuts, Reduced Donations

Budget cuts and reduced hours at Fairfax County Libraries make the work of local 'Friends of the Library' groups harder, but more important than ever, said a group of non-profit leaders Sunday afternoon.

Sherwood Regional Library hosted a forum among 'Friends of the Library' organizations, non-profit groups that support county libraries, to discuss ways to raise awareness about the need for volunteers and donations at time when

"If we are successful, if we raise awareness, it translates into more resources for the Friends and more resources for the libraries," Chris Peterson, a Richard Byrd Friend said. "At the end of the day, that is our end goal. We are the Friends of the library."

Of the 24 Fairfax County libraries, 18 branches were represented by delegates, who spent the two-hour meeting discussing ways to create more awareness about the issues facing local libraries and the work of 'Friends of the Library' groups. Peterson asked the assembled to consider why donations and volunteers had declined in recent years.

"We're here today as friends members representing Friends all over the county," Pamela Chin, a Reston Friend said. "We're here, like we've all said, because we love our libraries. Friends groups are concerned with how to gain and retain volunteers."

Forum attendees hypothesized that community members are selling used books online, dropping them off at places with easier access and operating hours or outright throwing unwanted books away, rather than donating them to their local Friends group.

The majority of the Friends' budget comes from used book sales held year round at individual libraries across Fairfax County. Peterson said every cent from the book sales goes directly toward funding children and adult programming at the library, renovations, new books and more.

"What's important to communicate to the people who visit the library is what the funds raised by the Friends do," Peterson said.

This fiscal year, FCPL lost nearly $3 and a half million in county funding. That included the loss of about 70 staff positions-although not 70 personnel, as employees were transferred, retired, or merged duties. FCPL now operates with a $26 million budget.  lost 60 hours of circulation help and 92 hours of information help since July 1,

The Friends decided that cuts in library hours has narrowed the time community members are able to volunteer and that modern, hectic lives make it harder to find the time for potential volunteers.

"There are a lot of people who are not aware of who we are and what we do for the community," Yolanda Atkins, a Pohick Friend said. "We need more Friends, but people ask, what's in it for me? They need to realize what they are supporting and know there are many different ways to be a Friend."

Because each Friends group operates autonomously, Peterson asked for ways to communicate to the Fairfax community as a whole and newsletters, posters, social networking sites and blogs were suggested. The Friends hope that the more community members that know about them, the more likely they'll be to receive donations and volunteers will increase.

The Friends next step will be organizing the awareness campaign and getting the word out to the community. For more information about the Friends of the Library visit the Fairfax County Library website or call your local library.