About the Friends ....

Friends of the Jefferson County Public Library are concerned people in the community who cherish their local libraries and want to lend their support. Friends share a common belief that public libraries are an indispensable part of their community, and that they must be nourished and supported. If you are among those who believe that a good public library is vital to a community, you can make a difference by joining the Friends!

What do Friends do?

• We have the satisfaction of knowing we are supporting a worthwhile cause through our membership contribution.
• We help publicize the functions, resources, services, and needs of the library.
• We promote the library’s volunteers program and many of us also serve as library volunteers.
• We staff the Friends Gift & Book Shop at the Belmar Library in Lakewood City Commons.
• We help run the Foundation’s Annual Book Sale and other events to help raise funds to provide materials and equipment beyond the library’s budget.
• We sponsor special events and programs.
• We advocate library concerns via the legislative process, and speak up for libraries in our community.
• Most importantly, we have fun doing it!

The Library We Serve:

The Jefferson County Public Library is a network of ten community libraries and one bookmobile offering books and other library resources to the residents of Jefferson County, Colorado, serving over 520,000 people in an area exceeding 780 square miles - from the "Plains" in the East to the "Peaks" in the West.

What We Accomplished in 2007:

The Friends of the Jefferson County Public Library is now in its eighth year of service, with 790 members, and continues to be dedicated to enhancing the programs and resources of our libraries throughout Jefferson County. The Friends is an organized group of volunteers and other persons or organizations interested in the purposes of the Jefferson County Library Foundation, Inc., and operates as members of the Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. During the year, Friends volunteers assisted the Foundation in its Volunteer Recognition Luncheon in April, the Rare and Novel Experience in May, the Baby Whale of a Used Book Sale in June, the Whale of a Sale Annual Book Sale in October, and two Holiday Book Boutiques. Over 193 hard-working volunteers were enrolled to help sell 150,000 plus books, videos, audio-books and CDs displayed at the various book sales. The Whale sales, together with ongoing sales of used books at each of the libraries and the Friends Gift and Book Shop, grossed $266,406 for use by the Foundation in enhancing the Library's programs.

The Friends also sponsored several Colorado Author programs over the course of the year, including Francine Mathews (The Alibi Club), Joey Porcelli and Clay Fong (The Gyros Journey), Joanne Greenberg (Appearances), and Julie Ann Peters (grl2grl: short fictions). Other major events sponsored by the Friends included two collaborative performance pieces directed by Ruth Seeber, Denver's celebrated director and actress: In May, "Songbirds" highlighted the lives of Peggy Lee, Jeanette MacDonald, Ethel Merman, and Mary Garden; and in October, "Men of Letters" brought legendary writers Charles Dickens, H.G. Wells, and Ernest Hemingway together for an afternoon chat. Friends members also enjoyed a thought-provoking "Evening with Dick and Dottie Lamm," former Colorado Governor and First Lady, in November. For aspiring authors, the Friends helped sponsor a series of Writers' Workshops at the Golden and Columbine Libraries, which were presented by professional authors for the Colorado Authors League.

How do I become a Friend?

Easy! Just click here for a membership application form , print it out, fill it in, and mail it in, or bring it to any Jefferson County Public Library. We’re looking forward to having you join us!