Friends of ImagineIF Libraries donates $12,000 to library
Members of the Friends of ImagineIF Libraries present a donation of $12,000 to ImagineIF libraries on Dec. 4. (Photo by Lune Axelsen)
The Friends of ImagineIF Libraries has donated $12,000 to ImagineIF Libraries, giving the gross proceeds from the Friends of the ImagineIF Libraries Book Sale to the library system.
In September, the group re-established its annual book sale as a community favorite, serving hundreds of customers over three days and making over $10,000.
“After missing two years in a row (2020-21) due to COVID and having an off-cycle “catch-up” sale in the Spring of 2022, we are pleased to have brought back the sale in its traditional time slot,” said Francy McAllister, president of Friends of ImagineIF. “The fall sale time frame seems to resonate with our community, bringing our intake back to pre-COVID levels and allowing us to more deeply support children’s and other programs.”
The organization holds the sale to make money to support programs at all ImagineIF Libraries. Rebecca Johnson, ImagineIF Children’s Librarian, said the funds from the book sale support early literacy and after-school kid’s programs at all ImagineIF locations.
“Storytime attendees not only enjoy stories and songs but also are given the opportunity to develop early literacy skills through hands-on activities,” Johnson said. “School-age children participate in engineering challenges, art invitations and collaborative games. The variety of creative materials that children experience at the library are provided by the generosity of the Friends of the Library.”
Tony Edmundson, Public Services Librarian for ImagineIF, emphasized the full impact of the sale.
“For myself, I would point out that, much like the Spring Forward Festival, the Book Sale is a community event. It offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with our regular patrons outside of the library and to further share the love of reading. In addition, the sale provides an avenue for keeping books in hands and in homes. We know that there is a correlation between access to books in the home and children’s academic success, vocabulary development, and later career opportunities.”