Friends of the Library

Consider friendship

Bega Valley Friends of the Libraries, Inc. is one of 170 public library friends groups across Australia and is affiliated with Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA) an umbrella body which includes friends of the National Library, all State libraries and Shire libraries. As affiliated members of FOLA, Bega Friends are eligible for a discount at the National Library Bookshop and are welcome to use the Friends Lounge in the National Library foyer.

Members of the Bega Friends are a small and enthusiastic group of shire-wide volunteers who support and add value to library services in many different ways. Recently, the Friends donated $1,000 from funds raised locally for the purchase of books to complement the children’s collection in Bega. Last month, at Merimbula and Bega, from funds donated by the Mumbulla Foundation and Merimbula clubs, the Friends launched additional services for clients with low vision. (For further information on this see http://thebegavalley.org.au/20283.html )

Last year, the Friends conducted a very successful program of events across the Shire to celebrate Children’s Book Week. It is hoped to repeat the success of this splendid celebration of reading with a similar Great Book Expectations program this year. Current ideas extend to a Great Tuesday Book Club in Bermagui, a Book Fair in Merimbula, an activity in Eden, perhaps a literary trivia night and certainly another Bermagui Big Book Day. Keep your eye on this website and local papers for details of these activities.

The Bega Friends are seeking new members to join in efforts to lobby local, state and federal government for increased funding for libraries – NSW state government funding for public libraries is the lowest nationally. These are certainly difficult economic times and this is reflected in the increased use of local libraries by the public together with demands for better services. Fortunately, most services are free to rate payers, and in the Bega Valley, the popularity of the branch library services is demonstrated by the fact that over two thirds of residents are registered library users.

For $15.00 per year the benefits of Friends membership are many and varied. They include the company of avid readers, worthwhile community contribution, opportunity to participate in literary activities and the satisfaction of supporting the branch libraries and adding value to their services.

The Friends enjoy a very positive relationship with BVSC Library staff, who are supportive and appreciative of Friends efforts to fill gaps left by the paucity of government funding.  Some Bega Friends are also formal Council volunteers, actively assisting in the libraries by reading to children, shelving or covering books and assisting with maintenance of audio devices for vision impaired.

The Friends meet formally around five times a year, generally on a Tuesday at 4.00pm. Last meeting was in Bega, the next will be held at Bermagui Community Centre, Bunga Street, 4.00pm. 26th May. Application for Membership forms are available at each branch library and more information is available in this website or via http://www.begavalley.nsw.gov.au/community/Library_Services/Library.htm

To add to the current benefits of financial membership, the Friends are also hoping to negotiate with the State Library of NSW similar benefits to those enjoyed with the National Library. Such incentives help make trips away from the beautiful Bega Valley a little more attractive.