About the Friends

The Friends of the Columbia Public Library is a group of people who share a belief that a strong public library is essential for a thriving community. We work together to enhance the public library’s collection and services for the benefit of all Columbia citizens.

In 2009, the Friends of the Columbia Public Library made an all-time record donation of $82,000 to the Columbia Public Library. These funds are used to purchase new materials and for other special projects. For example, some of that donation covered some of the costs of the One Read community-wide reading program, the summer reading program for kids, some new furniture in the main program/meeting room, and carts and supplies for the library’s newest ambassadors, the Dewey Decimators Book Cart Drill Team.

The Friends of the Columbia Public Library raise money for the library by holding book sales. The all-volunteer group sorts through books and other materials donated by the public. Books in good condition that would enhance the library’s collection are added to the shelves. With last year’s donation, the library purchased $40,000 in books and materials.

The Friends also resell much of what is donated at sales held every Tuesday, special large sales held four times a year, and online. Books that do not sell, but are in good shape, are donated to a number of local organizations, and, in 2006, many were sent to U.S troops stationed in Iraq.

To become a friend of the Columbia Public Library, please fill out a membership form (PDF).

Volunteering

We hold smaller sales every Tuesday and specially themed sales the first Tuesday of each month. We hold four large, two- or three-day sales during the year. With so many sales, we need many volunteers, and you can choose to work as many sales as you wish. It is not necessary to work every sale.

Donations

Bring your gently used hardback books, paperbacks, children’s books, videos, music CDs, audiobooks and DVDs (no magazines, please) to the Circulation Desk of the Columbia Public Library. For large donations, please call 443-3161 to make an appointment. Thank you for your support and donations throughout the years.