10/14/2026
Join the Fun with Friends at the Library!
If you've been by the Council Valley Free Library lately, you've probably noticed some changes! Library Director Milise Blanton has been hard at work upgrading the space for better utilization by the Council community. While change to places we love can be scary, most patrons agree that the updated collection and the new arrangement are great reasons to come visit the library!
The next space Milise is looking to upgrade is the much-used meeting room. The community has made great use of this room over the last several decades, and it is overdue for a facelift! This is where the Friends of the Library came in to help. If you are unfamiliar, Friends of the Library groups are common support systems for libraries all over the country. While Friends groups are their own entities separate from the libraries that they serve, they act as fund raisers to support ongoing upgrades and programming for their libraries. Our local Friends of the Library hosts several annual fundraisers including the ever-popular Walking Taco Feed and well-attended Summer Rummage Sale. Our Friends also coordinate several ongoing fundraisers at the library including candy sales and quilt raffles. The funds raised through all of these means are directly allocated to special projects at the library. Friends' efforts can be seen in the libraries in the elementary and high schools, too, as one of their goals is to support all young readers in our community. If you are a Libby subscriber, you have the Friends to thank for that service! In recent years, the Friends have helped fund summer programming for children as well as many of the building upgrades you've seen including new windows and doors. The meeting room project is a big one, so the Friends wrote for and received a grant to fund this renovation. They have partnered with LaGrone Construction to help Milise bring the meeting room up to date!
If you are interested in supporting your local library, joining the Friends is a wonderful way to do that. The Friends of the Library meets on the third Thursday of each month. The time commitment is low, but the returns are huge! They welcome any community member, sixteen years or older, who is willing to give a little of their time or loan some of their talents through planning for or volunteering at their annual fundraising events. They are also always accepting donations (items or monetary) for fundraisers. The annual membership fee is only $5, and members of the Friends have a voice in local library events and early access to fundraisers. Most importantly, many hands make light work, and the library, as well as our larger community, will always benefit from those willing to lend a hand. They say that life is better with the Friends! Join the fun!
