Library Hours:
 Mon.-Th. 9AM-8PM
 Fri. 9AM-6PM
 Sat. 9AM-2PM

Closed Saturdays, from Memorial Day to Labor Day

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Friends Of The Library

• FOL Volunteer of the Year
• Who We Are
• What We Do
• When & Where We Meet
• FOL Funded Projects
• FOL Events Calendar
• FOL Newsletter
• FOL Board of Directors

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2008 FOL Volunteer of the Year

The Friends this year have selected Judy Mader as our Volunteer of the Year. We recognize and appreciate the countless hours Judy has given to chairing the Garden Tour, working at book sales and Christmas Tour of Homes, weeding and watering the library gardens and containers, and doing lots of other things for the Friends.

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Who We Are

The Friends of the Frances L. Simek Memorial Library, Inc. (Friends) is a non-profit 501{c}-3 organization, dedicated to aid and promote the activities and services of the Frances L. Simek Memorial Library-Medford. Friends of the Library are the special people who give freely of their time, energy and enthusiasm to accomplish these goals. This Membership Form is an editable PDF file that can be filled in and then printed to send with your dues to:

Friends of the Library
400 North Main Street
Medford, WI 54451

There are volunteer projects to fit different times and talents. Volunteerism provides a chance to enhance the library and help the staff. Do you have some extra time? Are you looking for something new and would like to help the library? Join the FOL Volunteers.

Volunteers can arrange their schedules for their convenience. Some people work on a regular schedule coming in once a week. Others prefer coming in when help is needed as an on-call volunteer.

It is easy to become a library volunteer. Just contact FOL Volunteer Coordinator Sharon Beilfus or the library (748-2505).

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What We Do

FOL members give support financially to the library, and many also choose to participate in other FOL sponsored activities such as:

• Christmas Tour of Homes and Summer Tour of Gardens - on alternate years FOL sponsors tours of outstanding area homes and gardens.
• Semi-annual Book Sale - twice a year the FOL volunteers organize a used book sale. Books donated by the public are for sale during the three day event (first day is FOL members only).
• Assisting the Library Staff - Some people volunteer to come in on a regular basis and help the staff where and when needed. On occasion, volunteers provide hospitality needs for various library and FOL functions.
• Shelf Help Day - The staff decides which area of the library needs a little extra tender loving care to make it more attractive and easier for the public to use. The Friends volunteer their time to get the job done.
• Storytime - Storytime provides a high quality, developmental and age appropriate literature for preschool children during the school year.
• Reading Discussion Series - The FOL Readers' Group meets in the large conference room on the third Tuesday of September, November, January, March and May at 7:00 pm for discussion of that month's featured book. The book discussion schedule is on the Events page.
• Tending The Library Gardens - Since we do not employ a gardener, the Friends took over the duties of planting and caring for the library gardens. This project is under the leadership of Liz Archibald.
• Display Shelves - The Friends change displays on the shelves at the library entrance. This is the perfect place to display additions to the library collection and let patrons know what is available at the library.
• Publishing The FOL Membership Newsletter

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When and Where We Meet

The Friends meet eight times a year on the last Monday of the month at the Frances L. Simek Memorial Library - Medford. There are no meetings in June, July, August or December.

Members receive a newsletter to keep them abreast of upcoming events that is published quarterly. They also have a special "members only" early shopping night for the book sale. But the biggest reward for becoming a member is the satisfaction of participating in the development of a first-class library.

Upcoming Meeting Information

February 22, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., Large Conference Room
March 29, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., Large Conference Room
April 26, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., Large Conference Room

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FOL Funded Projects

The Friends bring in funds through membership dues, contributions and various fund raising activities. These funds provide:

• Annual support for the Children's Summer Reading Program and other children's programming.
• Purchase of the annual Caldecott and Newbury award books.
• Support for the continuing development of our library.
• Additions to the library computer equipment.
• Purchase of the microfilm reader and its related maintenance.
• Book prizes for the Open House during National Library Week.
• Continuing additions to the library collection.

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FOL Events

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FOL Newsletter -March 2010

Membership

It is membership renewal time for Friends of the Medford Public Library. Please take a few minutes to renew your membership and volunteer interests right now. Continued membership means we can support the public library and offer programs to members and the public. The form is included with this newsletter and we are looking at posting on the web site (www.sws-wis.com/medfordpubliclibrary) and it should be a type-in form that can be directly e-mailed to Vicki Jeppeson's e-mail address. Lifetime members, of course, owe no dues. They should, however, fill out the form and update their volunteer interests. To ease everyone's memory, I have included on the mailing address when your particular dues are or if you are a lifetime member.

We welcome new Friends! Extend an invitation to someone you know to join us. There are membership brochures at the circulation desk in the library. Increased membership helps us maintain a vital, active organization.

This Membership Form is an editable PDF file that can be filled in and then printed to send with your dues.

Memory Maker

Memories of past and present events, presentations and activities of the Friends have been documented and for future members through a Memory Book creatively developed by Sharon Beilfuss. Proudly displayed during the Month of February in the Library, the book brings to life the organizations work through photographs and journaling.

If you are an avid scrapbooker or would like your hand at helping record the FOL's future memories, please contact Sharon to volunteer your precious time or note this on your membership form.

Month by Month

At one of the recent FOL meetings, it was voted that a monthly donation of $100 will be given to the library to purchase books, DVDs, CDs, puzzles or any other material. The objective of the donation would be two-fold. Firstly, it would promote the FOL organization more prominently to those visitors to the library. Secondly, it would fund seasonal or needed materials the library would require or desire anyway.

In January, the library purchased The O2 Diet by Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, American Heart Association Complete Guide to Women's Heart Health, The Program, the Brain-Smart Approach to the Healthiest You by Kelly Traver, MD, Nordic Walking for Total Fitness by Suzanne Nottingham and Alexandra Jurasin, Home Workout including DVD and a Dance Off the Inches DVD.

February's purchases were: The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics 2010 edition by David Wallechinsky and Jaime Loucky, How Figure Skating Works by Keltie Thomas, Ice Hockey and Curling, Figure Skating, & Biathlon, Cross-Country, Ski Jumping, and Nordic Combined from the Winter Olympic Sports Series.

Bookish Friends

Upcoming Book Sale

Out with the old and in with the new. Bring in your used books, CDs, DVDs, etc. to the Spring FOL Library Book Sale - prior to the sale of course. Good quality media are always appreciated. Volunteers would also be welcomed to work a few hours at the sale, setting-up or tear-down. Folks who can pre-sort the publications in categories are always welcome (hint hint). We would like to have two people in the room during the sale. Anyone willing to get rid of paper or plastic bags should also drop them off.

To donate books, bags or media: Drop off at the library anytime prior to Wednesday. To donate your time: Contact any of the board members or the Book Sale Co-Chairs: Corinne Liske, Ardis Meier or Chris Finkler (contact info below).

Shelving Showcase

Carol Arnett has been generously donating her time and creativity for years by designing the book shelves in the library.

The front shelves are the "window display" of the library; creating interest and highlighting the seasonal interests of the community. "It draws the visitor's attention and can have a dramatic effect on the type of book checked out," commented Ann Harris, the library director.

Carol doesn't quite recall how long she has been doing the shelves (she thinks 10 years), but she still enjoys putting the displays together. "My favorite display is Christmas," she said. "It is just so much fun. And when you collect everything under the sun, it is easy to put together," she laughed. Her next favorite display is spring, "because were all just tired of snow!"

Thankfully, we are never tired of her handiwork and we take this moment not only to thank her for her time but for also sharing her creativity with us.

Life & Adventure in Barrow, Alaska

With over 55 people in attendance, Chris & Earl Finkler retold their tales of living what they reference as the "Alaskan adventure" at the Library on January 14th. Avu, their dog whose name means "sugar" in one of the native Eskimo languages of Inupiaq, was also a former sled dog who brought her own northern personality to the presentation.

The presentation, which showcased over 200 photos of their 25-year experience in Alaska, provided an inside look at life in the remote town of Barrow, Alaska. Topics ranged from flora, landscapes, Oceanscapes, Events, Buildings/Structures, ice fishing, Dog Teams/Dogs, and other unique sights.

The Finklers have been giving modifications of this presentation to area businesses and organizations for a while now, infecting locals with the charm that is unique to the Barrow region. A big note of Thanks to the Finklers for volunteering to share their Alaskan Adventure.

Barrow, Alaska, in North Slope county, is 724 miles North of Anchorage, Alaska and is considered the northernmost city in the United States. The city has a population of 4,581. Temperatures range from -19 below to 47 degrees F.

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FOL Board Of Directors

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