You asked …

Q: How does Friends of the Library raise funds for projects at the Lincoln County Public Library?

A: The mission statement of the Friends of the Library is to support the library with funds, volunteering and buying equipment. Two of those require raising money and the most profitable fundraiser the Friends has is the continuous book sale.

But they’re running low on books and need the public’s help to refill their shelves, said Friends President Pam Womack.

They’re asking for books — good-condition books of all types but especially children’s titles, cookbooks and best sellers.

“People will buy gently used books and that’s we what we want to sell,” she said. “The perfect book is a best seller you’ve read and your shelf is too full to keep it. That’s what we love to get.”

The donated books are kept in a back corner of the library that is clearly marked Friends of the Library Book Sale. It’s open whenever the library is open.

Customers choose their books, CDs or DVDs and take their selections to the library’s check-out desk to pay. Items range in price from 25 cents to $1, though generous purchasers sometimes will give a bit more.

“We have generous patrons and customers who love the library and love books and who realize it’s our fundraiser,” Womack said.

All the money raised through the book sale goes back into Friends’ projects at the library.

“I don’t believe we’ve ever said no to a reasonable request,” she said.

Womack said the Friends helps the library where its funding falls short. They’ve bought rugs, furniture and artwork as well as funded receptions and programs. They also sponsor the Second-grader Explorer Project each September to give tours of the library and gift backpacks to every second-grade student in the county, city and private schools. The children are encouraged to come back with an adult and get their own library card.

Kacey Beth Brown, library youth services coordinator, said she relies on the Friends to help fill some of the needs of the children’s library. She said the Friends group helps purchase books for the children’s section and they’re working on purchasing a Lego table. They also help financially with the summer library program to bring in speakers.

She encourages people to donate their books to the Friends.

“Every little bit helps them help us,” she said.

Friends of the Library accepts donated books all year long, but are hosting a special book drive for the month of February to refill their shelves and meet their immediate needs.

A perk of getting donated books that are current best sellers is that they can donated those books directly to the Library and instead of selling it to another patron for $1, it saves the library $20 to $25 because they won’t need to purchase it.

About $2,000 a year raised by the Friends goes to the library to purchase new books.

“We love to buy books,” Womack said. “That’s our favorite part.”

Friends of the Library is in its seventh year in Lincoln County. Dues to join are $10 each year, and that goes into funding projects as well. The Friends also host a Christmas sale every other year to sell donated Christmas decorations.