A Library of Things & A Book Sale On Tap

(From left to right) Friends members Donna Hieftje, Jean Schuler, and Library Director Jackilyn Roseberry with “Library of Things” collection

From The Friends of the Fremont Library Group

The Friends of the Fremont Area District Library are an active, vital, and beloved group that works hard year-round to support their local library. They do volunteer work around the library, including decorating each holiday season to bring festive cheer to staff and patrons, as well as fundraising to support library collections and initiatives. 

If you visit the library you will find a unique gift shop that is staffed by volunteers. In the store, shelves are filled with gently used books, brand new games and toys, gifts, home décor, and more. All proceeds go to the Friends of the Fremont Library who in turn use that money to put back into more fundraising efforts to multiply what they are able to donate to the library each year. This amazing group also hosts an annual book sale each year during the National Baby Food Festival as well as other smaller fundraisers throughout the year.

In 2022, The Friends of the Fremont Library were able to donate the funds to get a “Library of Things” collection started at the Fremont Library. So far that collection includes yard games and board games, but will be expanding in 2023 to include more recreational items such as binoculars as well as household tools like a stud finder. 

How does a “Library of Things” work? Well, it’s pretty simple! You checkout the item just as you would check out a book or a magazine. The items, or a picture of the item if it is too large for the shelf, can be found on the main floor of the Fremont Library right next to the Large Print section. You take the item, or picture of the item, to the Circulation Desk, present your library card, and the item is checked out to your account for 1 to 3 weeks depending on the item. 

The Friends of the Library also donate hundreds of dollars each year to support the library’s Summer Reading Program. In addition to allowing staff to give coupons for free books from their book store, they also supply the funding for the Children’s Summer Reading prize books. The Fremont Library has hundreds of students finish the program each summer and collect a prize book so it can get expensive fast. So far already in 2023, more than 600 children have signed up for this program and usually around half of those make it to the end of the challenge. 

This year, the Friend’s annual book sale has more books than ever thanks to our generous community for donating their used books. Please stop by the library’s community room on Thursday, July 20th between 9am and 4pm, or Friday, July 21st between 9am and 3pm to shop the sale. 

If you would like more information on how you can join this impactful organization or for any questions regarding the book sale, gift shop, or other programs please call the Fremont Area District Library at (231) 924-3480 or stop by during their open hours! 

Summer Reading prize books