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.
In March 2009 the Library reopened. The heritage building has been beautifully restored with a brand new Children's Library extension. Friends of Balmain Library (FOBL) held a Competition to produce a series of stain glass windows for Children's Library. FOBL sponsored the prize and the window's production costs. The winner was Danielle Sellers, a student at the Sydney College of the Arts. The windows are now in situ and have been widely admired.
FOBL has over 150 members and works to raise funds for improvements to the library.
Friends of Balmain Library "Open Book" Group meets every second Tuesday of the month at 1.00 pm, at the Meeting Room, Balmain Library, Darling Street, Balmain.
It is free and all are welcome.
There is a moderator for each meeting. Refreshments are provided.
Books for upcoming meetings are………..
9th February 2010:
"The Other Side of You" by Salley Vickers
9th March 2010:
"The Outsider" by Albert Camus
13th April 2010:
"Emergency Sex (and Other Desperate Measures): True Stories from a War Zone" by Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait, Andrew Thomson
11th May 2010:
"The White Tiger" by Aravind Adiga
8th June 2010:
"Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
13th July 2010:
"Saturday" by Ian McEwen
10th August 2010:
"Come on Shore and We Will Kill You and Eat You All" by Christina Thompson
14th September 2010:
"Still Alice" by Lisa Genova
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 year in 2009 and recently celebrated their 20th birthday with a lunch. The Annual General Meeting was held on Friday 25 September and a new committee elected. Office bearers for 2010 are Judith Hansen - President, Kay Burman - Secretary, and Committee members, Karen Gurton, Chris Hart, Marj Page and Jan Warrington. The Friends continue to fund raise to support their Bookstart project, mostly with book sales which have raised over $10,000 this past year. Bookstart commenced in February 2006, and to date over 3000 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 next Friends meeting will be the Christmas Lunch to be held at Port Macquarie Library meeting room on Friday 27 November 2009 at 12 noon. Th theme is a caring, sharing Christmas and Friends are asked to bring a wrapped gift suitable for a woman. All gifts will be donated to the local women's refuge. The lunch will be self catered. If attending you need to bring a plate to share. Phone Jan Warrington on 6582 3921 to RSVP or for further details.
The first meeting for 2010 will be held on Friday 29 January in Port Macquarie Library meeting room. New Members are always welcome.
Enquiries to President Judith Hansen; 02 6582 7932
Updated: 7/10/2009
The Friends Book Group is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 1.30pm at Port Macquarie Library Meeting Room. Topics and books for the remainder of 2009 are: 3 November - Cashing in on Christmas - fiction by authors writing out of genre 1 December - Christmas Lunch Book group is in recess during January. The first meeting in 2010 will be held on Tuesday 2 February, the topic is 'A book with a colour in its title'. Updated: 7/10/2009
Announcing 'Drinks with Di'. Join us for an evening with best selling Australian female author Di Morrissey on Thurdsay 5 November 2009 at 6.00pm at Port Macquarie Library, Grant Street Port Macquarie. Cost is $10 adults and $8 seniors which includes refreshments and finger foods. Bookings are essential, phone 6581 8755 during business hours. Places are limited.
The Friends hosted a seminar and the FOLA AGM on 24 August 2009. The seminar was well attended by Friends from across the region. The day provided an opporutunity to learn about other Friends groups and to meet with the FOLA committee. We were also able to show off our great town and wonderful library.
Souper Sounds was held on Wednesday 15 July 2009 at Port Macquarie Library. The evening raised $910 for Bookstart. Thanks to our talented musicians - Hi Falootin' flute choir, 'elby' and Three's Company, all of whom donated their time. Thanks also to the Friends who assisted in catering, providing a delicious array of soups, desserts and refreshments.
Thank you to everyone who joined the Friends for some fun and morning tea at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party on Wednesday 6 May 2009 at Port Macquarie Library. The event raised $261.35 in support of Australia's Biggest Morning Tea.
Updated: 7/10/2009
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.
The Friends of Gladesville Library have been operating for some 2 years.
We started as a very small group but are growing in membership, recently receiving six new membership applications.