The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County is pleased to have a supportive base of volunteers who give generously of their time and efforts to support Mahoning County libraries through various fundraising efforts. Friends of the Library were honored at the Library Board of Trustees Meeting in January 2007 (see photos on this page).

Friends of the Library groups can be found throughout Mahoning County. Branch libraries and Main Library have Friends of the Library groups. A county-wide group, The Friends of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County (PLYMC), is an umbrella group working to benefit the entire library system. The Friends of PLYMC operate the Friends Bookstore and Gift Shop, located in the lower level of Poland Library, 311 S. Main St., Poland, OH.

Friends groups have made great strides over the years. Where they are today is the result of an evolution that has taken place over many years with efforts of many stalwart individuals. Reflecting on their accomplishments and contributions helps us to really appreciate their value to our library system.

Progress in becoming official 501(c)(3) status entities

Over the years, a stronger emphasis in general has been placed on insuring that affiliated fund raising groups, such as our Friends, have proper bylaws, articles of incorporation and charitable status. Just a few years ago, the former Council of Friends was the only group to have 501(c)(3) status. That group was restructured into the new countywide Friends created by the Library Board on October 16, 2003. The Boardman Friends then took the lead to secure 501(c)(3) status. Since then Austintown, Poland, Canfield and Sebring have done so. East Branch Friends and Campbell Friends groups are now in the process of doing so. As part of this process the Friends groups now have insurance policies, are bonded, and have attended annual informational training meetings sponsored by the library. Groups in North Jackson and Lake Milton are holding off on going through the 501(c)(3) process given the change in library service pending in that area. Friends groups at South, West, Brownlee Woods, and Struthers elected to disband, with some members affiliating with other groups and the new County Friends. With only one exception (Main Friends) all groups are either now properly organized or making plans to do so.

Fund Raising

Friends groups as a whole have faced challenges in recent years with fund raising. Some groups had the capacity to raise funds to aid their branch. Other groups did not. Support for activities aided by Friends' tended to be irregular. The lack of a Friends group to aid the whole system limited opportunities. All of the Friends groups need to be commended for working through a transition that has resulted in all Friends now having fund raising efforts in place. This has enabled more Friends groups to be viable organizations capable of making donations to support programs for children, teens, and adults. Some of the Friends groups have been able to place larger sums of money into CD's so that they will be able to make more sizable contributions to their branches for future capital needs.

The Friends of PLYMC have worked tirelessly since their creation in October 2003. They have organized, staffed and worked through all the logistics and policies entailed in operating their store at the Poland Branch. The store is operated by two Co-Chairs, Donna Canja and Anne Speck, and staffed by 50+ volunteers, under advisement of a Board of Trustee, Jim Meehan. Volunteers come from all over the county and include students as well as retirees. This group has risen over $72,000. Proceeds have been used to cover expenses of programs enjoyed by library users all over the county. They have been particularly generous to the needs of libraries that are not able to raise the necessary funds for their own branch.

Friends groups are also reaching out to one another to be of mutual assistance. Groups are sharing surplus donations when another group is in need. The bookstore also opens up its inventory to assist other groups when necessary. This year, the Friends of the PLYMC and the fund raising committee for the Springfield Branch Library will be jointly undertaking and benefiting from a joint fund raising initiative. This type of mutual support and collaboration between Friends groups is to be commended. It reinforces the understanding that all libraries in Mahoning County work together for the collective good.

The Boardman Friends and Main Friends especially have always had excellent programs for their membership as well as for library patrons, and now other groups have either started to do so or are in the planning stage. Their activities include assisting with blood drives, helping with refreshments, Spring Teas, Cookies with Santa, sale of Wendell August Forge Library items, commemorative bookmarks, pens and book bag sales, gift wrapping at Barnes and Noble, membership drives and author presentations as well as other things.

The East Friends are putting on monthly programs for children and visiting outside area organizations to cosponsor and promote the library. They are an important group in helping stimulate interest in the new East Branch.

Boardman Friends is diligent with fundraising and continues to have excellent programs. They provide funds to help with summer reading, and teen and adult programming.

Austintown Friends was the first to adopt the book trucks and perfect the system into the fundraiser used by many today. They also help support summer reading, and teen and adult programming. They also support programming that aids the whole system.

Sebring has reorganized to form a board of officers and became a 501(c)(3). They had their first program this year and have raised funds for the summer reading program.

Canfield also became a 501(c)(3) this year, revising their bylaws, restructuring their board, and has started to plan new programs in 2007. They also donate to summer reading and other projects benefiting their branch.

North Jackson and Lake Milton groups work to support their branches and the summer reading program. The two groups are planning to do a joint program this spring. This type of effort will be especially helpful as we proceed in creating one library to serve both communities.

Campbell is also raising funds, supporting summer reading, and children's programs.

Struthers was the first group to revise their bylaws and donated to support summer reading, teens and adult programs. The group recently disbanded but many of its members have joined other groups and the county Friends.

Poland has had successful book truck sales in place for many years, wonderful programming for their membership, and a variety of unique fundraising initiatives, all of which has enabled them to support summer reading, teen and adult programming, and to assist with furnishings at this branch.