Have you ever thought of joining the Friends of the Amador County Library? It is a volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting county libraries and to enrich the life of the community through the libraries in Jackson, Sutter Creek, Pine Grove, Pioneer, Ione and Plymouth.

A friends of the library membership is inexpensive and provides several benefits, which include a bimonthly newsletter, a preview sale during the semi-annual book sale and an opportunity to volunteer your time to an integral component of the community.

The Friends of Amador County Library Board meeting on the third Thursday of the month, supports special events at the library and produces the newsletter. Income produced by the friends of the library pays for children's programs such as the summer reading program and supplements the library's budget by providing funds for certain special items that are needed.

Although dues make up only a small portion of the friends of the library budget, our largest fund-raising source being the semi-annual book sale, maintaining a large membership base is vital to the friends of the library for several reasons. Having more membership means that more people receive our newsletter and are advised on activities and library events. That alone makes us more visible and a more viable organization in the community.

Having more members also means that we have a larger volunteer base to call upon for help with book sales and volunteering in the library. Some volunteers work on book sales, sorting books or working as cashiers, and make book gift baskets for sale. Others contribute two or more hours a week, working with the library staff. Friends of the Amador County Library members also work extensively to maintain the supply of donated books, adding and purging that collection of books on a regular basis.

Even if you don't have time to volunteer on a regular basis, your membership as a friend is important to us. We value the volunteers, but we also need a large membership base of Friends of the Amador County Library who share our goals and who will come to the library to enjoy the children's programs and cultural events that the friends of the library support. Ideally, we would like to see many more regular library patrons become members.

If you're truly interested in supporting the library as a cultural and educational force in our community, please join us. To become a member, you will not only received more than just the newsletter or an invitation to the yearly preview sale but you will participate in a large support network for our library, enabling the continued enrichments of the community.

Membership forms are available at the circulation desk at the Jackson library. The Spring Book Sale will be held Friday, June 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. as a special time for friends of the library members. Other dates and times include Saturday, June 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.