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By Geena Matuson
Hometown Weekly Staff
This May, the Medfield Memorial Public Library will welcome a new addition to the Jane Archer Room. The space commonly referred to as ‘the open area with chairs and a table across from the elevator’ is the new home to the Friends of the Library (FOL) Bookstore, serving the public with a range of books, music, films and more.
The Friends Bookstore was previously located is the library’s lower level and, due to library programming and expansions, the store will now be located on the main level just past the front desk. This move will not only help shine a light on the presence of the Friends, but will also help strengthen the partnership between them and the community. “Thanks to the generous donation from MEMO, Medfield Employers and Merchants Organization, furnishings and extensive shelving systems were purchased to enable the transformation,” said President of the Friends, Carol Wasserman. After a day-long marathon installation, much of the bookstore construction was completed on April 23. Over the next week, the bookstore will be completed and stocked with fresh inventory and ready for a soft opening.
The official “Friends Bookstore Grand Opening Celebration” will take place on Tuesday, May 30, from 7-9 p.m. With plentiful refreshments and favors, the Friends are excited to share the new stock and the outlook of both the organization and the library.
Friends of the Medfield Public Library is a volunteer community organization that donates over $20,000 to Medfield Public Library annually to fund community enriching programs that are beyond the scope of the library’s operating budget, along with scholarship opportunities and grants, events and more. The Friends Bookstore is a major source of fundraising for the Friends of the Medfield Public Library, and the highly-attended “Half-Price Book Sales” have been a staple of the bookstore, connecting patrons with new and older works they might otherwise overlook. These book sales will continue the last Saturday of each month starting again in June, after the grand opening makes the space official.
The bookstore relies on donations to stock the store, welcoming CDs, DVDs, and books, with a noted emphasis on children’s books as they expand into the new space. Donations can be made during library hours through a donation closet located at the library’s entrance. These new donations are sorted every week, with the new stock quickly added to the bookstore. All funds collected through the store go back to the library to help fund programming, such as the children’s room activities, teen events, and museum passes. Books usually range from $0.50 to about $3, and the new sticker system now lists pricing so there is no confusion. Members of the community can conveniently purchase their books directly at the front desk with any librarian, now just steps away.
Residents are reminded to follow Friends of the Medfield Public Library on Facebook for updates at www.facebook.com/friendsofmedfieldlibrary, and learn more at www.medfieldlibrary.org/friends.
