What The Friends Do

Sponsor Programs & Events —  We provide funds for the library to offer a wide variety of public programs. For children:  Summer reading activities & reading clubs, preschool & toddler story times, year round programs on animals, crafts, music, nature, poetry, theatre, and writing. For adults & families:  Family films, new releases, foreign films & classics, concerts, community jams, hobby and craft workshops, cultural heritage & diversity programs.

Support the Reading Rover Bookmobile —  The Rover brings the library to over 300 children & caregivers in child care centers in Macon County, strengthens classroom literacy, and sponsors training workshops to improve parent/teacher education.

Purchase Library Materials — We raise money for the purchase of books, books on CD, DVDs and magazines. The bestseller rental program provides more copies of popular books, and Friends for Life & A Decade of Books programs buy new books in honor of life members.

Volunteer  — There are opportunities at both our Used Book Store and the Macon County Public Library. During 2009, volunteers gave more than 6,000 hours of service at the Bookstore and more than 2,600 hours at the Library.

Strengthen the Community — We develop & maintain citizen interest and participation in the growth of the Library County Fair Booth, Town of Franklin’s Appalachian Trail Conservancy Community, Chamber of Commerce Membership,  Red Cross Blood Drive.

Advocate for the Library —  We work to increase the visibility and use of the library as a vital part of the community. We support Library Legislative Day to secure state funding for libraries; contact local elected officials to secure local funding; work with civic and community groups.

Connect to the Online World — We help the library keep its technology equipment up-to-date with matching funds for technology grants like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grants.