There’s a lot happening with the Friends of the Fairhope Library -- Read on!!

• No tricks, just lots of treats at the Halloween “By-the-Inch” Book Sale, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 29 and 30 in the Giddens Conference Center at the Fairhope Public Library. Hours are 10A-4P on Friday and 10A to 2P on Saturday. There will be lots of “gently read” fiction and non-fiction plus children’s books, and a great assortment of craft books and patterns, all priced at just 50 cents per inch. How’s that work? It’s simple. Just stack up your selection, and we’ll measure the stack, and you pay just 50 cents for each inch of books.

Library Spokescat Finn McCool will be on hand (on paw?) to visit with old friends and make new friends from 10-11am each day of the sale. Come on by and say ‘hi!”

• The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Fairhope Public Library is Sunday, Nov. 7 at 3pm in the Giddens Conference Center at the library. There will be a short business meeting to elect the new board of directors and vote on a minor change to the bylaws, and an interesting program from guest speaker Dr. Aaron “Bill” Williams, meteorologist, followed by a reception. All friends, old and new, are invited to attend.

• New! More hours for you to shop the Friends Bookstore! Now open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, 10-4, and Saturday, 10-2. Check out the fine selection of ‘gently read’ fiction and non-fiction at the Friends Bookstore at the library, conveniently located just off the lobby at the front entrance. Your purchases help support the Fairhope Public Library in a big way – last year, the Bookstore generated more than $30,000 for the library! Want to know more about the bookstore? Just scroll down….

• The 3^rd annual Chocolate & Champagne Fantasy was a great success! Thanks to the help of many dedicated volunteers, generous donors, and our wonderful community, we raised around $12,000 for the Fairhope Public Library. The one and only Cecil Christenberry of Old Tyme Feed & Seed in Fairhope was our “host with the most” for our live auction. Thanks, Cecil! Since 2008, the event has raised more than $40,000 for the library.

• Raise A Reader continues to gift new babies at Fairhope’s Thomas Hospital with their very first book. Read more below about this special community project of the Friends of the Fairhope Library.

• Who is that big ginger cat? Meet Finn McCool, Friends of the Library “spokescat.”

Finn McCool is the official spokescat for the Friends of the Fairhope Library. Paw down to read more about this big boy. And check out the photo album to see what Finn’s been up to.

• Who are the Friends of the Library and what do we do? Scroll down to learn more about this organization and how you can become involved.

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Fairhope Library Friends “Raise A Reader” project needs volunteers.

Here’s a chance to help the Friends and learn a fun, new skill. Raise a Reader, a Friends’ program that encourages parents to read to new babies, supports use of children’s services at the library, and supports literacy by providing newborns at Fairhope’s Thomas Hospital with their very first book, needs volunteers to help make the burp pads that are included in every new baby packet.

“The project is modeled after Books for Babies, sponsored by FOLUSA (Friends of Libraries USA), the national organization with which we are affiliated,” said Friends’ member Roberta Long, who co-chairs the project with Marilyn Holder. Parents of newborns receive a packet with a hand-sewn burp pad, a board book, and information about the library with an application for a library card.

“We are so pleased to do this,” said Long. “We want everyone to know that it’s never too early to read to your child.”

But with more than 100 babies born every month at Thomas Hospital, the Friends could use a little help, Long noted. “We need help cutting out and stitching the burp pad. We have acquired an embroidery machine, and we need volunteers to help embroider ‘Raise a Reader’ on the burp pads. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to use an embroidery machine, we’ll teach you. It’s fun and easy to learn.”

Cash donations to assist with the purchase of material for the burp pads and the board books are also accepted. If you or your organization would like to volunteer to help sew burp pads or make other contributions to the project, contact Roberta Long at 929-1909.

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Meet Library Spokescat Finn McCool. Finn is a very genial boy who enjoys meeting new people. He loves to hang out at the library bookstore or at special Friends’ events. Finn helped raise awareness for the library when he ran for City Councilcat in the Fairhope 2008 elections. He’s also a big supporter of The Haven, since Haven founder Dr. Theresa Marshall helped Finn find his ‘forever’ home with his very grateful people, Tom & Fran Morley. When not helping out at the library, Finn loves to play with his ‘little sister’ Zoey, Check out the photo album to see what Finn’s been up to.

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The Fairhope Friends Bookstore is a great place to shop for ‘gently read’ fiction and non-fiction and your purchases help the Fairhope Public Library! Last year, bookstore sales amounted to more than $30,000. You can help with your donations of ‘gently read’ hardback fiction, cookbooks, history, decorating or craft books, and children’s books. Tax receipts are provided for donations. Donations may be left on the cart in the hallway any time the library is open. To obtain a receipt, bring your donation to the bookstore, which is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 10-4 and Saturday from 10-1.

Volunteers are also needed at the Friends’ Bookstore! Meet new people, have fun, and help the library by volunteering as a cashier at the Friends’ Bookstore. Stop by the bookstore during regular hours to learn more. “Come by and take a look at the calendar. If you are available to help on one or more of the dates when we need volunteers, just fill in your name and phone number,” said store manager Brenda Huchingson, adding that cashiers may choose to work once a week, once a month or even just be on the stand-by list. Cashiers generally work in pairs and full training is provided.

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The Friends of the Fairhope Public Library is the support group for the Fairhope Library. The Friends provide financial and volunteer support and help encourage use of library facilities. We support or underwrite a number of programs: the Tuesday Morning Book Review/Lecture Series; the Written Word Book Discussion Group; Consanguinity, a summer movie program; Popcorn and a Movie; the children’s Summer Reading Program; and Raise A Reader. In addition, donations are made to the library for funding unbudgeted books and equipment. These donations are drawn from the Friends’ Bookstore and book sale profits, fundraisers, and membership dues, which are renewable yearly. We welcome the financial and volunteer commitment of all library supporters. For details on how to become a member, click “Membership” at the left of the screen; the membership form also gives details on how you can volunteer your time for the benefit of the Friends and of the library. Be a friend and join the Friends!