The Friends of the Wilmette Public Library are community members who love the library! Our mission is to support meaningful library programming and development opportunities for the Wilmette and Kenilworth communities.
The funding for the Friends' support of Library programming is raised through:
- Sales of used books at Books Down Under (BDU), a used bookstore on the library's lower level. Donated books are sold at bargain prices and book sales support library programs, events, art installations and materials.
- Your generous tax-deductible donations. Many companies will match charitable donations, so be sure to check if your company has a workplace giving program that will match your donation to the Wilmette Friends of the Library (tax-ID: 36-3511934)
Donate or join the Friends today to support library programs!
Friends Supported Programs
- One Book, Everyone Reads / Wilmette Reads
- Summer & Winter Reading Clubs
- Books for Babies
- Shakespeare Project programs
Friends Give Back
Friends give back to communities in need by sharing excess book donations from Books Down Under. By being bigger than just our community, Friends expands its local footprint and shares the love of reading and books with others who don’t have access to books.
Books have been donated to: the Antioch Public Library FOL, the Evanston Women’s Club (for its children’s gift bags), Humble Designs, Bernie’s Book Bank, A Just Harvest, and the Kids Korner at the Lake County Courthouse.
The Friends have also gifted rare books to Northwestern University Libraries, Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and the Newberry Library.
In 2023, Friends raised $555.45 through a pop-up sale, resident donations, and FOL volunteer donations, for the Friends of the Maui Library to assist its rebuilding efforts after the destructive August wildfires.
Cecilia Clarke - President
Judi Rosenthal - Secretary
Susan Friedman - Book Room Co-Chair
Liz Allan - Book Room Co-Chair
Susan Morrison - Book Room Vice-Chair
Marjorie Murphy - Membership Chair
Judy Schnecke - Hospitality Chair
Daniel Mitrano - Treasurer
Trina Platt - Marketing Chair
Friends of the Library FY25-26 Meeting Schedule
The Friends of the Library will hold their regular business meetings on the following Wednesdays at 4:00 pm in the Small Meeting Room on the lower level of the library:
- May 14, 2025
- June 11, 2025 (tentative)
- September 10, 2025
- November 12, 2025
- January 14, 2026
- February 11, 2026
- March 11, 2026
- April 8, 2026 (tentative)
- May 13, 2026
All members and volunteers are welcome to attend.
Books Down Under
Books Down Under is open the following days and times:
Monday 11am-5pm
Tuesday 9am-5pm
Wednesday 11am-5pm
Thursday 9am-5pm
Friday 11am-5pm
Saturday 9am-4:45pm
Sunday 1pm-4:45pm
Volunteer for Friends
Work at Books Down Under and get involved: fill out a volunteer form and return it to BDU: Bookstore Volunteer Form
Donating to Books Down Under
Drop off donated books to during Library hours in the staff entrance vestibule, located on the northeast side of the building near the Library van parking space. Tax receipts available.
Donation Guidelines
We accept:
- Gently used books in good condition
- Fiction or Nonfiction, for adults or children
- Classics in good condition
- Recent Best Sellers
- CDs & DVDs in good working condition
- Sheet music & LPs
We decline:
- Books in poor condition
- Damaged/torn/broken bindings
- Dirty/moldy/water damaged
- Highlights, underlining, or markings
- Encyclopedia sets
- Dated nonfiction
- Outdated travel or technology books