The Friends of the Library (FOL) in Statesboro is seeking new members to serve as volunteers at their bookstore. Pat Homer, Vice President and Volunteer Coordinator of FOL, says customers would like for the bookstore to be open more days of the week, but to make that happen they need more members and volunteers.
Founded over 30 years ago, the Friends of the Library previously held book sales inside the Statesboro Regional Library as a way to raise money for the library. In the Fall of 2021, they opened their current book store downtown. Staffed by volunteers, the book store relies on donations from the public and also includes some excess from the Statesboro Regional Library. The bookstore carries a wide selection of books including children's and adult books, as well as cookbooks, nonfiction, audiobooks, and more.
The bookstore, currently only open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm, requires at least four members or volunteers each weekend. If no one volunteers, one of the Board members has to fill in, or they have to close.
Homer says, “We require volunteers who will run the checkout to be FOL members for accountability.” However, anyone who wants to shelve books can show up during the store's open hours.
Homer shares, “I love volunteering in the bookstore. The atmosphere is great, and our customers are like family. I’ve learned many of our customers’ interests and enjoy showing them new arrivals in their favorite genres.”
"Our volunteers are the best, too!" she added. "We all try to help each other and make the bookstore the best it can be with the limited time we have. It’s a great place to volunteer while helping our library to offer quality programs and services for our community.”
FOL membership is an important part of supporting the library. They fund programming every quarter, along with additional funding for special projects like the seed bank, the story walk on the Willie McTell Trail, Breakfast with Santa, and the Genealogy Fair.
Homer says, “We also supplied the library with $10,000 for the purchase of furniture and bookshelves this year.”
Over the years, contributions from the FOL have enabled the library to get new sliding doors, furniture for the teen loft, and more. Basically, they supply whatever the state budget doesn't cover.
For more information on membership, visit the Friends of library website or email [email protected]. To sign up to become a volunteer at the bookstore, visit here.
To keep up with upcoming events, follow FOL on Facebook and Instagram.
Friends of the Library Bookstore is located at 6 Proctor St., Statesboro (in the old Maxway shopping center, across the street from The Statesboro Herald, under the green awning).
