These highlights from the January 1999 issue have been prepared by Heather Graham of the Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library in Manitoba. The issue was our "Show Edition" for our Friends Day at the Ontario Library Association Conference in Toronto January 23rd, 1999

Highlights

Friends forum
From the editor
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

FRIENDS NEWS FORUM……

The “Meeter/Greeter programs of OAKVILLE FRIENDS is increasing awareness of the Friends Group in their Community……BRAMPTON FRIENDS have DONATION BOXES in their four branches – large Plexiglass Boxes with slots for snappy flyers. Great idea when working with slogans and pictures.  (Can you share the design with us?) THUNDER BAY FRIENDS are celebrating “FREEDOM TO READ WEEK” – 14TH – 21ST FEBRUARY with a special evening at their local Chapters store.

FRIENDS OF THE EDMONTON PUBLIC LIBRARY issued a “Library Advocacy”
Message prior to their last Municipal Election.  The Issue – Their library has one of the
Lowest rates of municipal per capita funding, ranking close to the bottom of major
Canadian Public Libraries.  Their Three Key Points were:
1) Cultivation of a life-long learning culture through library use is essential in the City’s vision of a “Smart City” – it’s well being and prosperity.
2) The Library provides equal access to information for everyone – fundamental in a free, Democratic society.
3) The Library provides information for residents and businesses in a Smart City.
They presented the facts and figures and asked voters when attending candidate forums to voice their support for appropriate funding for the library.
 

FROM THE EDITOR

 FRIENDS DAY AT THE OLA!!! An exciting day full of sharing, learning and fun with friends across Canada.  Many thanks to all the Presenters and Convenors who took up the challenge of the day without hesitation – all for the good of libraries!  There’s something for everyone in the programme from Starting a Friends Group, Fundraising, Planning and Politics!  Enjoy!

Meet members of the Friends Executive – Jami Van Haaften, our Vice President from Sudbury, Ken Sparling, our Secretary, from North York, Gary Archibald, the CLTA Representative from Nova Scotia, Nicholas Spillios from Edmonton, our representative from the Prairies, Dianne Neitzel from Nepean and Michael Burris, our newly appointed representative from the Canadian Library Association.

Our team is working hard to further the advance of Friends of Canadian Libraries.  Membership stands at almost 100.  If your Friends Group has not joined, please urge them to sign up!

Oakville Friends have invited me to their Annual General Meeting on the 27th January.  I’m also looking forward to taking the Canadian Friends message to the Quebec Library Association at their Conference on 1st May.

Let’s keep the momentum going.  Your enthusiasm and participation makes for a vital and thriving organization.  Special thanks to our sponsors – they are FRIENDS who make a difference.
Val Marshall, President.
 

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

AUSTRALIA

FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED is a non-profit volunteer organization established in December 1991 with the objective to establish Friends of Library groups throughout the nation and support communities to achieve this goal.  150 FOL groups operate around Australia with a membership of more than 25,000.
Their National Office is in Tullamarine, Victoria.  Their Web page is http://home.vicnet.au/~fola/main.html

SPAIN
Anton Jorda Fernandez, President of “Associacio d’Amics de le Biblioteca Publica de Tarragone” emails that the Friends Group in Tarragona,  Spain, started just six months ago and believes it is the first organization of its kind in that country.

UNITED STATES
FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES U.S.A. has a network of more than 2,800 Friends Groups involving more than one million Friends of the Library.  Groups accelerated in the late 1970’s.  In 1978, a link was formed among existing Friends with a quarterly newsletter.  Its seventy subscribers included individuals and libraries.  Their Sourcebook – now in its Third Edition, edited by Sandy Dolnick, their Executive Director, can be purchased from the American Library Association, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, Il 60611.  Cost is $28.00 USD.  Call to order 1-800-545-2433.  It’s a valuable guide for any Friends Group.  (Sandy was our guest speaker at the first-ever Friends Day in Ottawa in 1997.) Their website is www.folusa.com