Thank You, Friends!

Dear Friends of the Library—

Thank you so much for considering funding next year’s ‘Coffee & a Classic’ book club titles. As I mentioned to Kerry, the titles you purchased for us last year were invaluable – we’ve seen a steady increase in our membership, due to more copies of our selections being readily available. We have stamped all these book club sets “Donated by Friends of the Meridian Library” and made these sets available to the public. They currently reside in our fiction collection, and we are making bookmarks and brochures to advertise our growing collection. We are currently re-designing the library web site, and we will feature the collection there, as well.

In selecting our upcoming books, we try to select titles where multiple copies are readily available through the library system, which will not necessitate purchase of extra copies. However, the number of books where 20+ copies are available through the local library system is a limited list, and after three years reading Jane Austen, Mark Twain, etc., we’re close to exhausting that list. Your contribution allows us to include more obscure classic books that we would not be able to select otherwise. . . . We’ve selected 6 titles that are readily available, which leaves 6 others of which we are asking you to fund the purchase of book club sets.

I thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,Greg Likins
Meridian LibraryAdult Services

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Please Donate

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November Seminar

Couponing 101

(Back by popular demand!)

Free Class!

When: Tuesday, November 17, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Meridian Public Library, large conference room to the right of the lobby entrance
Please arrange babysitting for young children.


Tiffani Clinger, coupon queen and savvy shopper, will show us her secrets. Learn how to lower your food bill and find deals in the Treasure Valley. An avid coupon clipper, she has lived all over the country and has years of practical experience in trimming the food budget for her family of six.

In case you missed Tiffani's previous class at the library, you'll want to for sure come this time. The same information will be shared. Trade babysitting with a friend, mark your calendar, do whatever it takes--just come!

December Book Sale

Just in time for Christmas! Our next book sale will be December 1-10 during regular library hours. Members of Friends are invited to a "First Dibs" sale on November 30 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Not a member of Friends? You can sign up at 5:30 on the 30th or drop off a membership form at the circulation desk. Forms can be printed from this blog and are also available on our Friends bulletin board in the library lobby.

Book sale prices range from .50 to $2. Cash or check only. If you'd like to volunteer to help with this sale, please let us know. These sales are big fundraisers for our library, and we could use extra help to set them up, maintain them, and take them down. You can also donate books and audiovisual items (except cassettes and VHS tapes) at the circulation desk. All items are sorted for possible library use. Remaining items are donated to the book sale.

Be a Friend

Do you want to make a difference in our community? Please join Friends of the Meridian Library District as we help the library serve our growing community’s needs.

What do we do? We inspire and educate the community—through the library. Since each household’s library taxes barely cover the cost of a book each year, funding for additional materials and programs has to come from other sources. Friends offers another source. As a nonprofit group, we work with the library to fund things that would benefit the majority of patrons and offer volunteer support.

Does it take much time? You choose your level of involvement. Active members meet once a month for an hour to offer valuable input regarding fundraising goals and ways to help meet the library’s needs. Some members choose to help with our ongoing book sales, which typically involve a couple of hours each month. Other volunteer options could take less time or be done from home. If you want to be a member but don’t want to volunteer, you may simply pay annual membership dues and receive our occasional, informative emails.

How much are annual membership dues? They start at $5.00. For that price, all members receive periodic emails from Friends, including a monthly list of new materials purchased by the library and early sign-up opportunities for Friends-sponsored activities. The highest level of membership is $100.00. When renewing annual fees, members always have the option of staying at the same level or choosing another. For those who donate $100, a portion of that money is used to donate a book of the member’s choice, with the library’s approval. A personalized donation inscription will be inserted inside the front cover. All dues are used to donate materials or services to the library, which ultimately benefits you.

What has Friends contributed so far?
*Toys and educational items for the Children’s Department playroom.
*New shelving for the remodel of the Teen Section.
*A Wii and some games for teen use at planned game times.
*Change jar fundraiser to further energize the teen zone.
*Book Club sets for Coffee and a Classic Book Club.
*Free workshops taught by professional instructors that would normally cost attendees.
*Wall art for the children’s area of the new library branch in Silverstone business complex on Eagle and Overland.

How do I join? Simply inquire at mldfriends@hotmail.com or contact Kerry Smith at 898-0305. It truly is a rewarding experience to help our community learn and grow. Be a part of that experience. Be a Friend.