There are numerous Friends' Groups around Australia which support their libraries and library users and their recent activities or general notices are available on this page.
To view the recent activities or general notices of the Friends' Groups by state, click on the appropriate state on the map.
A full listing of the Friends' Groups is available for you to look at.
FOLA is compiling a list of Friends' Groups who have a web site or have a link to their Friends' Groups or are mentioned on the library's web address. Send us details (link address along with the name of the FOL Group).
If you run a Friends' Group and would like access to this web page to keep your own Friends' Groups information up to date, please contact Daniel Ferguson, FOLA.
Friends have again supported library management in submitting an Library Development Grant Application to the NSW Library Council. The group are selling handy book bags, made especially for us, by the Safari Appeal, a charity that was set up to assist a small Kenyan boy named Safari, who was bought to Australia for surgery. Check out the website at www.safariappeal.com
The net profit from calendar sales amounts to $1646. During most of 2003 the committee was consumed with researching issues relating to new insurance and the Friends authority to fundraise. They now have authority from the Department of Gaming and Racing, effective until 2008.
Balmain (Pop.16,000) is an inner western suburb of
During the 1880s Balmain developed as an industrial centre with shipbuilding, metal foundries, engineering, and boiler making flourishing on its harbour foreshore. Many cottages and terrace houses were built to house workers, together with a Town Hall and Law Courts.
Today the suburb has long ceased to support these industries but its historical charm has attracted new residents with many journalists, authors and artists living in the area.
Balmain Library was established in the early 1970s in the defunct Town Hall Building. The Library is well attended by the residents and has very popular children’s story time events.
However for many years it has been apparent that the interior of the heritage listed Town Hall does not meet the requirements of a modern library. After several years of planning the Library moved into temporary accommodation in 2008 while the interior of the Town Hall is gutted and extended. Hopefully a brand new library will reopen in late 2008/early 2009.
Friends of Balmain Library (FOBL) has over 150 members and works to raise funds for improvements to the library.
Having moved into a magnificent new library building in 2004, the Friends have more than 220 members across the Shire and have raised more than $50,000 since inception in 1994. The library building has become a major drawcard to librarians across the State.
The Friends have had a busy half year for 2008. The April Book Sale raised over $1500 for Bookstart. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party in May was a great success raising $377 for cancer research. Souper Scenes was held on 12 June with over 100 attending.Thanks to the Players Theatre, the night was fun, entertaining and most importantly raised over $1300 for Bookstart. Bookstart commenced in February 2006, and to date over 1800 Bookstart packs including a board book, fridge magnet and information on the importance of reading to babies and children have been distributed to mothers giving birth at Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
The Friends Book Group is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 1.30pm at Port Macquarie Library Meeting Room. Topics for the remainder of 2008 are: August - Ian Rankin, September - Advance Australia - where?, October - Tasmanian Writers, November - Bloke's Books
The Friends Literary Lunch will be held on Friday 5 September 2008 at Tommy's by the Beach, 4 Flynn Street, Port Macquarie. Guest Speaker will be Jane Gleeson-White speaking on Australian Classics. Jane is a freelance book editor, writer, reviewer and most importantly a passionate reader. The cost is $35 per person, for further information contact Judith Hansen 6582 7932.
The next book sale will be held on Tuesday 15 October 2008 at Port Macquarie Library commencing at 9.30am.
Wentworth Falls subgroup donated $3,500 to the refurbishment of Wentworth Falls branch (lovely friendly modern small branch now!), have run 2 Footpath Book Stalls in different villages to raise ongoing funding for our library's 'Books4Babies' scheme (seeding capital raised by Wentworth Falls last year), run cake stall and raffles for different library projects.
The Friends of the Tweed Library Inc. meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month.
The President of the group is Betty Priest.