Friends of the Paris Library celebrate 25 years of volunteerism and support

By Casandra Turnbull

Friends of the Paris Library are celebrating a quarter century of kinship and library support this year

The 25-year milestone is impressive, even more so when you realize the roots of this group lead back to pre-amalgamation days when the Paris Public Library existed As the Paris Public Library Board was dissolved during amalgamation in the late 1990s, many board members wanted to continue to support the Paris Library branch, so they formed Friends of the Library, a fundraising group that was quite common throughout Canada at the time.

“We knew there would be an expansion of the library to provide offices and services and fundraising for the expansion would be an important activity,” explained Jean Farquharson, the only originating member of group still involved today

So, who are Friends of the Paris Library? They are a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to helping the library grow. They are a volunteer-based group of individuals who share a belief that a library is vital to the life and quality of a community To aid in reaching their goals, these volunteers help the Paris library by providing special programs and new books by way of fundraising activities and donations.

The group’s very first fundraising mission was inheriting the copyright to Donald Smith’s ‘At the Forks of the Grand’ book to keep it in print and sell it to raise money for the library. The book, perhaps the most iconic novel that traces and details Paris’ history, is still sold today with funds going to Friends of the Library. Every year, the group donates a set of books to the students in Grade 10 at Paris District Highschool with the highest marks in

English and History This is a nod the book’s author who was a teacher and principal at Paris District High School. Proceeds from ‘At the Forks of the Grand’ isn’t the group’s only revenue. Their largest fundraiser over the last 25 years has been the Mile of Loonies, which was eventually rebranded as Trail of Twoonies Through that initiative, they have collected and passed on $20,000 to the library.

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Former Mayor Ron Eddy pictured in 2009 with library staff Sharon Briggs (left) and Kelly Dinsmore during a One Book One Brant event that featured the novel “Where We Have to Go” The One Book One Brant program is still going strong more than 15 years after this photo was taken Friends of the Library help with the event each year.

Excited readers lined up for a chance to browse the book selection at the Friends of the Library’s Biannual Spring and Fall Book Sale. This photo was taken on October 15, 2011. The book sale still attracts crowds of people looking for a great deal on used books.

Photo credit Paris Star

“We put two-way tape on the sidewalks of downtown Paris and the spare change (and bills) we collect goes to the library for their children’s programs,” said Grant Brooker, a member of the group. “The Paris Optimist Club and the Paris Kiwanis Club help with this fundraiser; it’s a true community effort ” Mark your calendars, Paris, as this year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, May 24th!

Over the years, they’ve hosted wine tours, car rallies, author readings and a Ceilidh celebration of Robby Burns Day. Later this year they have a historical house tour planned, and the group is always looking for new and exciting fundraising opportunities, said Brooker.