Giveaways, Teen Game Night highlight National Friends of Libraries Week

Oct. 18-24 is the 4th Annual National Friends of Libraries Week. The Friends of the Maricopa Library and the library staff are offering several opportunities for patrons to celebrate the week with them.

In cooperation with the U.S. Census Bureau the Maricopa Friends will offer free book bags and bookmarks during the week in order to help communicate the importance of the 2010 Census in the community and to get the word out that “Maricopa Counts.”

The Friends invite residents to stop by the library during the following times to pick up a free book bag and bookmark:

Monday: 6-7 p.m.
Tuesday: 10-11 a.m.
Wednesday and Thursday: Library closed to install new circulation software
Friday: 11 a.m.-noon
Saturday: 1-2 p.m.

Membership applications for the Friends group will also be available, individuals ($15), families ($25) and seniors over 65 ($10). Membership in the Friends is an opportunity for residents to support their library whether or not they have the time to volunteer there.

The Friends of the Maricopa Public Library is the fundraising arm of the library. Fees collected through their membership drives and semi-annual and ongoing used book sales help support various programs and activities at the library.

Since the new library opened in June, the Friends have helped coordinate the grand opening activities, sponsored the Summer Reading Program prizes and purchased book carts and a second security re-sensitizer for the library.

The Friends hold coffees at the library every Tuesday afternoon from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and sponsor a monthly book club.

Teen Game Night at the library will take place Monday, Oct. 19, from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. Join other teens for a Mario Kart tourney on the 52-inch plasma TV in the meeting room. Board games and playing cards will able be available. Game night is open to 32 teens, and registration forms are available at the library.

Teens can also check out the new video game collection located next to the Young Adult area. All that is needed to check out a game is a library card. Don’t have a card? Have a parent or guardian come to the library with you and show proof of Pinal County residency. For more information, contact Kevin Drinka at 520-233-2401.

In order to update its software, the library will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 21 and 22. From Oct. 15-20 patrons will be able to check out items from the library, but staff will be unable to check in returned items. The staff is asking customers not to return items during this period. Items will not be due during those days, and any fines incurred will be waived unless the item is in “lost” status.

Don’t forget to join the fun and get free book bags and bookmarks while helping to celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week, Oct. 19-24.

File photo

Friends of the Library pictured (left to right): Lee Pierce, Judy Figgins and Chairman Roberta Cianciosi.