Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries

02/02/2026

New editor: Jacqueline Brown-Williams

Please be mindful of road conditions when you are venturing out, and check with the library, but coming by. Please remember that our Friends Sale Room is closed when the library is closed.

On a happier note we are pleased to welcome new members to our Friends of the Polk County Library Board. A great welcome back to a past board member Amber Keeran. We also welcome two other new board members, Kendall Page and Carolyn West.

We will miss our former board members Lois Machida, and Joan Beck, but I know they will stay active on our Sales Room Team. Remember, all members are welcome to work in the Sales Room. Chris Davis will be happy to train you in this

Speaking of our Sales Room, we had a great year. This is both amazing and much needed to cover the costs of the multitude of programs our library supports, including our children’s and summer programs.We were also able to pay for renovations to the community room, including new carpeting, tables and chairs, and repainting the walls.

February Special Theme $1 Book Specials
Who can miss out on Valentine’s Day, either by that special recipe, book of poetry, or heartwhelming novel?
And of course this month celebrates Presidents Day and February is Black History Month. Look for these books on our Front Rack and around the window shelves. Check back weekly as we will be restocking these twice a week!

Friends of the Libraries Board
· Jodie Jackson, President
· Garland Rice, Vice President
· Robin Rice, Secretary
· Kim McCool, Treasurer
· Jacque Brown-Williams
· Chris Davis
· Marcie Dowling, Library Director
· Catherine C. Johnson
· Amber Keeran
· Lisa Pack
· Kendall Page
· Ruth Richardson
· Carolyn West

Contact the Friends
Email: [email protected]
Mailing address:
1289 West Mills St.
Columbus, NC 2872

DON’T FORGET!!!!
PLEASE REMEMBER TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Memberships run Jan – Dec
Individual $10
Family $15
Individual- Life membership $100

Friends of the Polk County Library Tote Bags are $5 each
These make great presents and the perfect tote to carry library and sales books!

01/06/2026

Wishing everyone the best for this coming year, with lots of good books and good stories!

At the Columbus library
The Community Room was renovated, new paint, carpet and furniture. Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries was instrumental in funding this project. Come and check it out. And what better time to do so than coming to our annual meeting!

Reminder!
The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Polk County Public Library, Inc. will begin with refreshments at 4:30 PM on Monday, January 12, 2026, in the Community Room of the Columbus Library followed by the Annual Meeting at 5:00 PM. Officers and Directors will be elected at this meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor by any member of the Friends during this meeting. Also, a vote to approve the proposed revision of the Constitution and Bylaws will take place at this meeting. A paper copy of the proposed revision is available in the Saluda Library next to the main desk and in the book sale room of the Columbus library.

January Special
With the New Year, redecorating your house and spring cleaning might be on your mind, so to help you with these projects all books on interior decorating and designing will be on special for $1 each.

Membership
January is also a good time to consider renewing your membership to Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries and encourage your relatives and friends to do so also. Your contributions in donations and memberships are what makes this organization so valuable to our community and our public libraries and we thank you.

12/01/2025

HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO ALL!

Silent auction - December 1st to December 22, 2025

A beautiful framed and numbered “Blue Parrot” etching by Dan Mitra (24” x 32”) was donated to Friends of the Libraries. You can bid on it at our silent auction in the book sales room at the Columbus Library starting December 1st and until December 22,2025. (See pictures below)

Christmas books and Friends of the Libraries tote bag

Check out our front shelves in the sales room for Christmas and Holiday themed books. What better present to yourself or a loved one....and even better if you put it in one of our cute Friends of the Libraries tote bags, which are now on sale for $5 each. (See picture below)

A message from the Polk County Friends of the Public Libraries board

Dear Friends Members,
The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries, Inc. will begin with refreshments at 4:30 PM on Monday, January 12, 2026, in the Community Room of the Columbus Library followed by the Annual Meeting at 5:00 PM. Officers and Directors will be elected at this meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor by any Friends of the Libraries member during this meeting. Also, a vote to approve the proposed revision of the Constitution and Bylaws will take place at this meeting. A paper copy of the proposed revision is available in the Saluda Library next to the main desk and in the book sales room of the Columbus library.
This is an opportune time for you to come and meet the Board Members, see the improvements made in the past year; hear about exciting new projects; visit the Book Sale Room; and renew your Friends membership!
We hope to see you there!
The Board of Directors, Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries

Interested in joining our Friends board?

After serving their terms several of our board members are leaving and we are looking for volunteers to replace them. Why wait for the meeting if you are interested in getting involved with such a worthwhile organization? If so, email Friends of the Libraries at [email protected] as soon as possible to let us know.

11/04/2025

Give Thanks!

On the heels of Halloween, November is a month with major celebrations.

In our sales room at the Columbus Library:

Have a look at our history section for books to celebrate our veterans and military families on Veterans Day, November 11.

Thanksgiving on November 27 is one of the most cherished celebrations in the USA, an occasion for families to get together around wonderful meals and enjoy lively discussions on all kinds of subjects. You are bound to find ideas for your own get-together in our cooking section and throughout our shelves.

With the arrival of more dreary days, uplifting stories are the ticket!.

Last but not least, November special
With Christmas coming up soon, we thought that to help you get ahead with your holiday gift making and decorating we would have all craft books for $1 each!

Coming up....
Be on the lookout for our lovely Friends of the Libraries canvas tote bags that will be available for purchase in our store toward the end of the month. What a wonderful gift idea for yourself, a loved one or a friend!

From the Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries Board

The board of Directors of the Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries has been working on a revision of their Constitution and Bylaws. Draft copies of this document will be available in the used book room at the Columbus Library and by the staff desk at the Saluda location beginning mid-November. The Bylaws will come up for a final vote at the annual meeting of the Friends of Polk County Public Libraries on January 12,2026.

Our next meeting will be on November 10 at 5 pm in the Community Room of the Columbus Library. All are welcome.

10/01/2025

Welcome to October, Fall colors and Halloween festivities!

With Indigenous Peoples Day on October 13, we are celebrating Native American History month at our Friends of the Polk County Public Library store in the Columbus Library. We pulled out a number of books on this subject and displayed them on the front shelves to make it easier for you to find them.

If you are looking for Halloween crafting ideas or wanting to try new recipes for cooler days, you might find what you need on our shelves. So many wonderful books are waiting for new homes!

Several Big Little Books are on display in our glass case. Check them out, such little treasures! They are individually priced.

Friends of the Polk County Public Librairies sponsor almost 100% of the summer programs. This year participation was a resounding success :
Ages 0-5: 35 registrants, 16 programs offered and program attendance 387
Ages 6-11:143 registrants, 8 programs offered and program attendance 465
Ages12-18: 57 registrants, 5 programs offered and program attendance 172

We are grateful for your donations. Please check out our donations guidelines on line, on the donation cart and within the Book Sale room at the Columbus Library. If you have more than a few books to donate, we are available to help you on Monday mornings and Friday mornings (9-11 am).

Our next meeting will be on October 13 at 5 pm in the Columbus Library.

08/04/2025

Welcome to August...
and, for some soon, welcome back to school

Hopefully August will be a little less hot and muggy than the last couple of months! Before school starts, remember that you still can contact our public library to get the zoom passes and take yourselves, your children or grandchildren to several wonderful Western North Carolina attractions.

August special at the Columbus Friends of the Library Store
Biographies $1 each: Take advantage to read about your favorite celebrity or historic/political figure.

Make sure to also check out our fiction shelves as we will be bringing a different selection out.

We are always grateful for your donations. See our donation guidelines in the sales room or on the cart in the hallway by the restrooms at the Columbus Library.

Our next meeting will be on August 11 at 5 pm in the Community Room at the Columbus Library. All are welcome.

07/02/2025

July Newsletter

Happy July 4th!

July special:
To celebrate our national holiday and American History month, all books on American history are $1 each for the month of July. Our volunteers worked hard to sort them by period to make it easier for you to find what interests you the most.

Summer programs:
Remember that the library summer programs are not just for children: check out the Adult Challenge Card. So many cool activities for you to do, and so many books related to these activities that you can find on our shelves in the Friends of the Libraries store.

Enjoy summer!

No Fiends of the Libraries meeting in July.

(Photo by Christina Glebova)

06/03/2025

CONGRATULATIONS to EVEYRONE GRADUATING!
AND HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
Speaking of Father's Day, our store at the Columbus Library offers a selection of cookbooks on grilling, perfect for dad's enjoyment this summer! And for those of you interested in history, check out "Famous Fathers" biographies.

Starting on June 9th, the Polk County Public Libraries will kick off the 2025 Summer Learning Program! Check out the schedule for all these wonderful events.
An exciting new feature this year: Each week that a kid/teen turns in their learning goal bookmark, they select one of three local organizations (Drawn to Help, Champion for Wildlife, Foothills Humane Society) and a $1 donation will be made on their behalf thanks to Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries who are sponsoring this program. So not only children will learn exciting new things but they will directly contribute to local causes!

We are always so grateful for your book donations (please note the donations guidelines posted in our store at the Columbus Library). Friends of the Polk Country Public Libraries are also very thankful for any financial donation. Note that you can require that your financial donation be earmarked for a specific purpose or need, for example support the Saluda Library Children's area interactive panels, the new "Cat Who..." mural, etc.

Last minute: we received a collection of Harry Potter books! They are in the juvenile section in our store.

Our next meeting will take place in the Community Room at the Columbus Library on June 9, at 5pm. All are welcome.

06/03/2025

CONGRATULATIONS to EVEYRONE GRADUATING!
AND HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
Speaking of Father's Day, our store at the Columbus Library offers a selection of cookbooks on grilling, perfect for dad's enjoyment this summer! And for those of you interested in history, check out "Famous Fathers" biographies.

Starting on June 9th, the Polk County Public Libraries will kick off the 2025 Summer Learning Program! Check out the schedule for all these wonderful events.
An exciting new feature this year: Each week that a kid/teen turns in their learning goal bookmark, they select one of three local organizations (Drawn to Help, Champion for Wildlife, Foothills Humane Society) and a $1 donation will be made on their behalf thanks to Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries who are sponsoring this program. So not only children will learn exciting new things but they will directly contribute to local causes!

We are always so grateful for your book donations (please note the donations guidelines posted in our store at the Columbus Library). Friends of the Polk Country Public Libraries are also very thankful for any financial donation. Note that you can require that your financial donation be earmarked for a specific purpose or need, for example support the Saluda Library Children's area interactive panels, the new "Cat Who..." mural, etc.

Last minute: we received a collection of Harry Potter books! They are in the juvenile section in our store.

Our next meeting will take place in the Community Room at the Columbus Library on June 9, at 5pm. All are


05/01/2025

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

We hope that everyone is enjoying the warmer days and gorgeous blooms all around us.

Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries are as busy as ever trying to keep our store in the Columbus Library well stocked and ready for you to browse. We are so grateful for all the donations brought to us. Friends of the Libraries is a non-profit organization that relies on our local public's generosity (donations and memberships) to function. Our goal is to support the numerous programs offered by our public libraries.

When you visit our store, please note our guidelines for donations as they are posted in our sales room. You might also have seen them in the article published in the Tryon Daily Bulletin on April 27, 2025. Donations of three boxes or less are accepted during regular library hours. For larger donations, please bring them on Mondays or Fridays between 9 and 11 am when our volunteers are able to assit you.

HIGHLIGHT ON CIVIL WAR BOOKS
We received a large amount of books featuring Civil War history. These books will be available for purchase starting May 1 and as long as supplies last. So Civil War and history buffs, here is your chance to find affordable books to add to your collection.

SPECIAL GIFTS TO THE POLK COUNTY SENIOR GAMES
Friends of the Libraries donated two baskets as prizes for the Polk County Senior Games and Silver Arts closing ceremony: one book-themed, the other puzzle-themed. Congratulations to the two senior citizens who received them and thank you to our volunteers who contributed to the baskets.

Our next meeting will be on May 12, 2025 at 5 pm in the Community Room at the Columbus Library. All are welcome to attend.

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04/18/2025

Spring has arrived, Easter is just around the corner

It is the perfect time to look at the cookbook section in our Friends of the Libraries store to plan your festive spring menus. The Cooking Club, which meets every third Thursday of the month in the Community Room at the Columbus library has a list of recommendations (below), you might find some of them on our shelves:
• The Joy of Cooking
• Baking in the American South: 200 Recipes and Their Untold Stories by Anne Byrn
• Better Homes and Gardens Cookies and Candies (Meredith Publishing, 1966)
• Bowls: Vibrant Recipes with Endless Possibilities (America's test Kitchen, 2019)
• Culinary Journey to the Mediterranean (Meredith Publishing, 1997)
• Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day by Leanne Brown
• Love & Lemons Every Day by Jeanine Donofrio
• Mississippi Vegan by Timothy Pakron
• Plant-Based on a Budget by Toni Okamoto
• The Blue Zones Kitchen by Dan Buettner
• The I Hate To Cook Book by Peg Bracken
• The Little House Cookbook by Barbara Walker
• Vegetable Simple by Eric Ripert

With spring comes planning a new flower or vegetable garden, so check out our selection of gardening books.

Sport, and particularly golf enthousiasts, you might find some interesting reads about the Masters and golf in general.

Friends of the Polk County Public Libraries started a collaboration with Advent Health to provide books to patients in care of the hospital (previously Saint Lukes).

We are also instrumental in supporting the library programming: lots of events are planned for the summer, so make sure to check in with our librarians.

Since Hurricane Helene created havoc, Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park have been bringing animals for kids program each month to the Columbus Library, quite a popular event!

A reminder that with the help of Friends of the Libraries, zoom passes are available to many local attractions (for example Asheville Art Museum. the WNC Nature Center...): newly added is a zoom pass for the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah, which will be available in the summer but can be booked now.

04/15/2025

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The official rules for celebrating . (Nottingham Post, 1930)