The Annual Membership Drive for the Friends of the Library kicks off this month, spearheaded by Marilyn Jackson and Mary Poletti.

Letters have been mailed this week asking islanders and members near and far, from Seattle, New York, Oregon, Massachusetts, Texas, California, Missouri, and Arizona, to renew their memberships and recruit new members. The committee is especially interested in reaching new island residents and former members. While all volunteers are more than welcome, many members join simply to financially support the Friends and because they love libraries.

The library’s circulation is up, the children’s programs reach students from preschool to high school and also the eternal students of every age, computer usage has skyrocketed and the reading nook is bustling with the rustling of newspapers and magazines.

The Orcas Island Public Library is thriving at a time when many libraries are cutting back services and hours. Grants from the Friends of the Library continue to support the collection, programs, increased shelving, computer equipment and the Crossroads lecture series. Books are the number one request of Orcas Library patrons, and in the upcoming year, 40 percent of the Friends’ grants to the library is targeted for the book collection.

For the mailing workparty, Sally Wilson, Barbara Bedell and Pierrette Guimond joined Jackson and Poletti who are stepping in to take over the job done for more than a decade by former Membership Chair, Gunther Eschenbrenner.

“Those are big shoes to fill!” advised Orcas Librarian Holly King.

Friends of the Library memberships are the foundation of their annual budget.

Tax-deductible dues of $15 (individual) or $30 (family) can be mailed or dropped off to support the Orcas Library, one of the busiest libraries in the State of Washington.