Friends of the Library groups across the country support libraries with their fundraising and advocacy efforts and are recognized during the American Library Association’s National Friends of Libraries Week, Oct. 15-21.
Friends of Sequim Library (FOSL) is the local nonprofit organization, separate from the library, that offers generous financial support to the Sequim Library, part of the North Olympic Library System.
Community members founded FOSL in 1960 to support library services in Sequim. At that time, the library was located at 415 N. Sequim Ave., a few blocks south of the existing location.
The current Sequim Library was built in 1983 on land donated by Gertrude Nelson, one of the founding members of FOSL. This generosity has provided a home for the library for 40 years and is where the library will continue to grow.
In 2024, the Sequim Library Expansion and Renovation Project will break ground, addressing critical facility issues in the library. FOSL is a strong supporter of the project and has given $150,000 to help make it happen!
In addition to this special funding, FOSL makes annual donations to the Sequim Library to support programs like weekly Storytime, author talks, Summer Reading Program and Battle of the Books, a county-wide partnership with schools reaching fourth grade students. FOSL has donated more than $100,000 to support library programs during the past five years.
The public library offers free services for all community members, including library cards to borrow materials and access to computers. As a fundraising organization, FOSL is membership-based, with $10 annual dues for a single membership and $20 for a family membership.
Members can volunteer to help support the organization (and the library!), by working at book sales and supporting other fundraising. It is a great way to meet other book lovers, support your library and give back to your community. Stop by the library to pick up a membership form to join the Friends of Sequim Library.
The FOSL Second Saturday Book Sale will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, at their location in Rock Plaza, 10175 Old Olympic Hwy. There’s always a great selection to choose from including books, music CDs, DVDs and puzzles, with all sales supporting library programs.
Donations can be made to FOSL on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m.-noon at their Rock Plaza location. They are unable to accept donations on the Wednesday before the Second Saturday sale. Please visit the Friends of Sequim Library website (sites.google.com/site/friendsofsequimlibrary) for detailed information about what types of materials they can accept.
For more
Visit the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., during open hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Fridays, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Get in touch with your friendly library staff by calling 360-683-1161 or emailing to discover@nols.org. The library is always open at nols.org.
Emily Sly is the Sequim Library branch manager.
