Friends of the Library

What is a Friend?

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Friends of the Library believe that the strength of a library lies not only in its collection of books and materials but also in its programs and services. Friends also believe that libraries are for everyone – all ages, income levels, ethnic origins and all neighborhoods and geographic regions of the community. Friends share the commitment of the PLCMC Mission, which is what the Library system is about:

Expanding minds.
Empowering individuals.
Enriching our community.

Friends understand that a free nation and a free citizenry depends upon the free exchange of ideas, and that a public library serves every citizen with the opportunity to learn and grow without bounds.

Why Become a Friend?

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In order to meet the ongoing needs of our public library, we want to enlist assistance from the very people who support our institution and our mission - our friends. See the benefits of becoming a Friend of the Library.

A special additional benefit of becoming a Friend of the Library is that, at certain levels, you have an opportunity to get discounts and attend special PLCMC events. See some of our recent events.

Friends Goals

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Collectively, the Friends work to increase the level of support the Library receives from private sources, principally from citizens who appreciate the privileges of a great Library -- citizens working to improve the quality and scope of library services so others can enjoy the same privileges.

Your gift to the Friends of the Public Library will show that you too believe in the value of libraries. And it will help the Library achieve the margin of excellence to which it aspires.

Become A Friend

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Become a Friend today and enjoy that good feeling that comes with knowing you’ve helped make a good library great. Know that by being a Friend of the Library, you’ve helped enrich the lives of countless others in the community.

Not only will you enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made a difference in the community we expect you’ll have lots of fun at the same time. Just think of the new people you’ll meet and the experiences you’ll enjoy!

Become a Friend Application ( Requires Acrobat Reader)

For more information, call Dick Pahle at (704) 336-4115 or via email or telephone Karen Beach at (704) 336-6213 or via email.

History and Purpose

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The Friends of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County was established in March, 1982. Although its sole purpose is to support the Public Library, its collections, programs and services, it is a legally separate, state chartered non-profit corporation with its own by-laws, tax exempt status and Board of Directors (steering committee). Its two-fold objective - as defined in its charter - is to support the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County as a vocal advocate before elected officials, community leaders and citizens at large and to raise funds to achieve a margin of excellence, above and beyond that provided by Mecklenburg County government.

Over the years the Friends have provided funds to:

• enhance the Library’s summer reading program for school-age children
• to enlarge the library’s books on tape and classical music collection
• to sponsor the Library’s award-winning Novello Festival of Reading, to name but a few of the special initiatives it has embraced.
  Almost all (95% or more) of the revenue generated is passed on to PLCMC in the form of grants to fund select programs, collections and/or services like the ones mentioned above.

• Grants that the institution PLCMC would not have been qualified to receive.
• Grants used to fund new initiatives and/or support existing ones.

Thanks in part to the work done by the Friends of the Public Library, PLCMC now enjoys a reputation as being one of the finest public libraries in the land. Some have said it enjoys a reputation unmatched by any other public service institution in the community.

Our goal is to build an organization committed simply to advancing the mission of the Public Library. Although single-minded in purpose, we intend to build an organization that has ethnic, demographic, socio-economic and geographic diversity. Not to mention diversity of interests. For example:

• some Friends may have an interest in the Library’s used book sales
• others may be interested in special events.
• some may want to help organize and develop the Friends ‘stroller brigade’, a Friends sub-group devoted specifically to family and children’s services and programs.
• others may choose to volunteer in their neighborhood branch.
• many may simply want to make a financial contribution.