Friends of Clarion Free Library holding membership drive

Dawn Miller, a board member for Friends of Clarion Free Library, and Dan Parker, executive director of the Clarion Free Library, display the logo of the new Friends organization. (Contributed photo)

CLARION – The Clarion Free Library has formed Friends of the Clarion Free Library, a member-supported nonprofit organization that advocates, raises funds and provides support for the Clarion Free Library.

Friends of the Clarion Free Library is a new group made up of community members who are committed to supporting the preservation and growth of the Clarion Free Library, according to Dan Parker, executive director at the library.

Membership contributions support the quality of library facilities and services, he said.

“We have such enthusiasm from this group, I am anxious to see them engage the community in support of our library,” Parker said.

The group is looking for members who are willing to donate their time or money to support the library.

“Volunteer resources and funding through donations will determine how we can make our ideas come to life,” said Crystal Jewell, a board member of the newly formed organization.

A direct mail campaign and public relations campaign will cornerstone the membership drive and events and fundraisers are planned throughout the year. In the future the group’s vision includes a fully functioning used book store within the library with a broad selection of books and media available for purchase.

“We all love the library and want to see it thrive in our community,” Jewell said.

Since its recent formation, the Friends group has already supported the library with volunteers for the library’s Autumn Leaf Festival kick-off reception and has raised more than $4,000 in book sales.