Well....guess who just got "elected" president of the FOL???  Thanks to my dear husband (who just might become my dearly departed husband if he doesn't watch out!) who volunteered me when none of the other six people who showed up would say anything.

Our FOL has only been around for a year.  There are two ladies got things rolling, but it is very unstructured and they are worn out from doing just about everything for the last year.  I'm happy to help out and try to get some more members, some committees for different stuff, but none of us really know what we are doing.  I found the ALTAFF website and it had a lot of helpful stuff on it.  Can any of you direct me to other resources that might be helpful?  I'm already a bit overwhelmed!  The organization covers five libraries across our semi-rural parish and I haven't even met any of the librarians.  How do I get myself into these things???

I can't help you at all but I offer my congrats, Madame President! I have no doubt that you'll do such a tremendous job that you'll be "re-elected" for a second (and third and fourth...) term. If I were you, I'd make my (meaning, your) husband "Executive VP" and delegate all the work you don't want to do to him.  Good luck!

Oh yes,....that was definitely part of the deal. He is Vice-President, and I've already assigned him a few tasks to do!  LOL!

Christa, the one thing that stuck out in your post is that you said you haven't met all the librarians yet.  Maybe that's a good start!  Have the friends group organize a tea or get-together and invite all the librarians so you can meet and talk about their needs.  With five libraries, I'm sure each one has different wants.  Have the librarians bring a "Wish LIst" of projects for your FOL group to look over.

Our Friends group helps with building projects (painting walls, planting flowers, general clean-up days); they do fund raisers (book sales, book bag sales).  Ask what volunteers could do for the libraries, and perhaps try and round up volunteers, and help coordinate them.  (That sounds like a great VP job, I think!)

You will do a wonderful job!  My FOL is working on getting a bike rack for my branch...if it ever stops snowing, we'll get that baby installed!  ;)

P.S.  Feed the Librarians.  Very important.

Ahhhh...see ... I'm already on the right track!  We are also providing a bike rack for one of the branches, and I put the leftover cookies from our meeting in the the librarian's lounge. 

I definitely plan to meet with the librarians after I get a brain dump from the outgoing officers. The library already had an active volunteer group that organizes a variety of programs....seriously, there is so much going on, we couldn't even find an open night to use the meeting room in March.  So my impression is that they formed the Friends last year to focus on fund-raising.  DH and I really didn't get involved until November.

Wish I could help, Christa. But I'm not a public librarian. Sounds like Vicky gave you good advice.

(I'd seriously consider departing said husband. >;-) )

Genie