October 15-21 is Friends of Libraries Week, and we're excited to celebrate the Friends of the Wilmette Public Library! The Friends are an organization that support the library through advocacy and fundraising, supporting and promoting library services and events. The Friends run Books Down Under used bookstore, Wilmette's only bookstore, on the Lower Level of the library. Entirely run by volunteers and supplied with books donated by the community, funds raised by BDU support programs and initiatives hosted by the library. Over the years, funds raised by BDU and the Friends have supported initiatives including Books for Babies, Summer and Winter Reading Clubs, One Book Everyone Reads, and much more.
In honor of Friends of the Libraries week, the Wilmette Public Library Board of Trustees issued a proclamation in honor of the work the Friends do to support the library, including "the work of the Friends highlights the fact that our library is the cornerstone of the community providing opportunities for all to connect with the thoughts and ideas of others from ages past to the present."
The Friends are an active and committed part of the Wilmette community, and you can find them at BDU, at library events, and at events throughout the community. We invite you to learn more about the Friends, find information about Books Down Under, and become a member at the Friends of the Library webpage.