Library Friends To Help During Move
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MENTONE - Friends and acquaintances come and go over the years. The best friends are always there to help when the going gets rough.
In January, Friends of the Library reformed to aid the Bell Memorial Public Library and the library board's intention to occupy part of the Frank Manufacturing building at the corner of Broadway and Ind. 25. There are plans to include a senior citizens' center and day care at the site. The library will occupy 4,178 square feet of the space.
While the library board and town council have applied for and received grants, former Friends of the Library, anticipating that the move will come with expenses, decided it was time to regroup.
"We know there will be needs for the library," said Jacque Bradley, Friends president. "We'll see what we can do."
Bradley is a "new" member of Friends, unlike Linda Cochran who also was a member in the 1980s during the Friends' first incarnation.
"The need for some financial help for the library was realized in the spring of 1980," Cochran said. "The library was going to have to close for part of the work week in order to save money for the utilities and upkeep of the library."
The tax levy, paid by residents of Mentone and Harrison Township, was frozen at the time.
"We felt we could close the gap during the interval and keep the library alive, working and open to the public six days of the week," Cochran said.
The Friends of the '80s held an annual book sale, sponsored a food stand during the Mentone Egg Festival, held rummage and bake sales and sold poinsettias and geraniums as fund-raisers.
This year the Friends' first money-maker is a Longaberger Bingo Tuesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the elementary school. Tickets are on sale at the library and the Town House Beauty Shoppe.
Plans for an Egg Festival booth are being formulated during the May 31, June 1 and 2 event.
The town's first actual library was a service established by the H. Parmalee Co. of Chicago around 1899. Subscription holders were entitled to the use of 2,000 volumes.
In 1916 a more formal library was established and has enjoyed several locations.
Lawrence Bell provided construction funding for the present North Broadway facility as a memorial tribute to his parents, Isaac and Harriet Sarber Bell.
At each place the library's collection grew. Two building additions over the last 42 years have not provided enough space to contain all the materials.
In 1980 the Friends of the Library group first organized, paying for items the library's budget did not cover, like window replacement, paint, book shelves and library programs. For a while the group paid the library's heating oil bill.
Annual membership dues are: $5, individual; $10, family; and $1, junior, grades kindergarten through 12; organizations: business or professional: $50, member; $100, patrol; or life member $1,000.
For more information call librarian Lorna Klein, 353-7234, or Bradley, 353-7002 or 353-7393. [[In-content Ad]]
MENTONE - Friends and acquaintances come and go over the years. The best friends are always there to help when the going gets rough.
In January, Friends of the Library reformed to aid the Bell Memorial Public Library and the library board's intention to occupy part of the Frank Manufacturing building at the corner of Broadway and Ind. 25. There are plans to include a senior citizens' center and day care at the site. The library will occupy 4,178 square feet of the space.
While the library board and town council have applied for and received grants, former Friends of the Library, anticipating that the move will come with expenses, decided it was time to regroup.
"We know there will be needs for the library," said Jacque Bradley, Friends president. "We'll see what we can do."
Bradley is a "new" member of Friends, unlike Linda Cochran who also was a member in the 1980s during the Friends' first incarnation.
"The need for some financial help for the library was realized in the spring of 1980," Cochran said. "The library was going to have to close for part of the work week in order to save money for the utilities and upkeep of the library."
The tax levy, paid by residents of Mentone and Harrison Township, was frozen at the time.
"We felt we could close the gap during the interval and keep the library alive, working and open to the public six days of the week," Cochran said.
The Friends of the '80s held an annual book sale, sponsored a food stand during the Mentone Egg Festival, held rummage and bake sales and sold poinsettias and geraniums as fund-raisers.
This year the Friends' first money-maker is a Longaberger Bingo Tuesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the elementary school. Tickets are on sale at the library and the Town House Beauty Shoppe.
Plans for an Egg Festival booth are being formulated during the May 31, June 1 and 2 event.
The town's first actual library was a service established by the H. Parmalee Co. of Chicago around 1899. Subscription holders were entitled to the use of 2,000 volumes.
In 1916 a more formal library was established and has enjoyed several locations.
Lawrence Bell provided construction funding for the present North Broadway facility as a memorial tribute to his parents, Isaac and Harriet Sarber Bell.
At each place the library's collection grew. Two building additions over the last 42 years have not provided enough space to contain all the materials.
In 1980 the Friends of the Library group first organized, paying for items the library's budget did not cover, like window replacement, paint, book shelves and library programs. For a while the group paid the library's heating oil bill.
Annual membership dues are: $5, individual; $10, family; and $1, junior, grades kindergarten through 12; organizations: business or professional: $50, member; $100, patrol; or life member $1,000.
For more information call librarian Lorna Klein, 353-7234, or Bradley, 353-7002 or 353-7393. [[In-content Ad]]