WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., will spend the week of Oct. 15-23 recognizing its Friends of the Library group as part of the 18th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week.
The Friends of the James V. Brown Library were established in 1956 by Robert P. Henry, a trade union worker who wanted to raise funds to help renovate the library. Since that time, the Friends group has grown from several community members to nearly 500 members.
Since 1996, the Friends financial support for library programs and facilities has totaled more than $515,000.
The 19-member board is led by four officers: Greg Thomas, President; Deb Goff, Vice President; Shelby Weber, Secretary; and Michael Pontius, Treasurer.
An annual contribution of $20 is all that is required to become a Friend of the James V. Brown Library. More importantly, it helps support and sustain one of Lycoming County’s cultural treasures – the James V. Brown Library. Family memberships are $35.
The mission of the Friends of the Library is to assist the Library by funding materials, programs, and services beyond the Library’s regular budget, encourage volunteer service, promote the value of the Library to the citizens of Lycoming County, and advocate support of the Library.
A membership to the Friends helps the library serve hundreds of people daily with its collection of high-quality materials in various formats for all ages; reduce the rate of illiteracy in Lycoming County; support the needs of area students for career information; provide access to online information for people of all ages and incomes; and assist all residents of Lycoming County in meeting their lifelong learning goals.
Members receive a bi-monthly newsletter with upcoming events, early notice of special events, access to the Friends-only preview at book sales, and specials at the Friends Book Store, which is located on the third floor of the Welch Children’s Wing.
Members of the Friends volunteer as book sorters, assist the library with mailings, volunteer at the Friends Favorites store, and plan and organize the spring and fall book sales.
To become a member of the Friends, visit https://jvbrown.edu/about-the-friends/ to join online, or stop by the help desk or bookstore for a membership form.
The James V. Brown Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. To place a hold, visit www.jvbrown.edu or call 570-326-0536 during the library’s operating hours. Walk-in passport services are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., Williamsport, Pa., is the place to go to learn, connect and grow. Founded in June 1907, the library champions the love of reading, opens new doors to lifelong learning, provides a haven to those who seek and ensures the preservation of public library services for future generations. The library has more than 225,000 visitors in a year and circulates a half-million items annually. A member of the Lycoming County Library System, the James V. Brown Library participates in PA Forward, a statewide initiative to promote literacies in our communities to power a better future for everyone.
