COMMUNITY
One for the Books
S
Friends of the Library Southport and Oak Island celebrates 30 years of building a strong community through a strong public library. BY BETH A. KLAHRE | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
September 27, 2020, marked the 30th anniversary of Friends of the Library Southport and Oak Island (FOLSOI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of Margaret and James Harper, Jr. Library in Southport and GV Barbee, Sr. Library on Oak Island. COVID-19 may have delayed the cake and ice cream celebration, but it certainly didn’t dampen FOLSOI’s passion and dedication to the libraries. Run by a 12-person volunteer board of directors and 93 passionate volunteers, FOLSOI is the only Friends group in Brunswick County that supports two libraries, providing financial support for both libraries beyond North Carolina state funding. This is one very industrious group of volunteers. “I love the dedication and enthusiasm that board members and volunteers show our libraries,” says FOLSOI board member Julie Paladino, who tracks volunteer hours. “We all want the libraries to improve and are willing to devote many hours to help them do so.” Customers browse at the Friends of Library Bookstore, which is the main source of revenue for FOLSOI.
Summer 2021
49
