Friends of the Boulder Library
Friends of the Boulder Library is a volunteer organization operating under the nonprofit umbrella of the Boulder Community Foundation. It is dedicated to enriching our public library, located in the Town Hall, and to carrying on the tradition of Helen Lyman, founder of the Boulder Community Library, who considered it “an essential component in maintaining the culture and well being of our community.” With that guiding philosophy, Friends of the Boulder Library assist in staffing and operating the library; aid in the creation and implementation of library programs; collect donations for materials, services and programs; and encourage the public’s use of the library. Since Boulder Town is not able to include the library in its budget, Friends plays a critical role in the existence of this facility.
Some of the Friends’ projects thus far have been:
• securing two donated computers and a printer, connecting to DSL, and offering free use during library hours; recently wireless transmission was acquired
• decorating the library and making it a more comfortable area
• adding an audio book section as well as a video/DVD section
• offering a Kids’ Summer Reading Program, the most recent of which allowed kids to “rescue” a stuffed dog or cat after visiting the library six times.
Friends is proud to have initiated The Boulder Book Club, a group of adults who meet on the last Tuesday of the month to discuss a chosen book. The club’s reading list, created by its members, includes fiction and nonfiction ranging from classics to contemporary works to books of regional interest. A few of the club’s favorites, thus far, are Wallace Stegner’s Angle of Repose, Isaak Dinesen’s Out of Africa and Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel. Anyone is welcome to join and most of the books are free to use. For more information, visit the Boulder Library or call Dianne at 335-7434.
Boulder Book Club 2009 Selections:
Jan.--The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie King
Feb.--City of Falling Angels by John Berendt
Mar.--The Souvenir: A Daughter Discovers Her Father's War by Louise Steinman
Apr.--various poetry (National Poetry Month)
May--The Living by Annie Dillard
Jun--Let's Not Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller
Jul--The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
With generous local support, Friends has acquired several Libri Foundation Grants, allowing for the yearly addition of about seventy new hardback children’s books to the library’s collection. The Libri Foundation is a nationwide nonprofit providing new, quality children’s books to rural libraries. Helping create strong, avid young readers is one of the Friends’ utmost goals.
Looking toward the future, the group hopes to create a Heritage Center in the library, where individual and family histories, local publications, photographs and regional reference books will be housed. Because Boulder possesses a unique past rich in rural and pioneer stories, the Friends wants to help assure that this printed history is not lost. If you have materials which might be relevant to this collection, please contact Boulder Community Library, open Wednesdays 11-2 and Saturdays 10-2