Local group notes National Friends of Libraries Week

It's National Friends of Libraries Week, and a local group has been busy.

Friends of the Grand Coulee Area Public Library (FGCAL) often work behind the scenes or find ways to support the local library.

Although the Grand Coulee Library is one of 30 in the vast NCW Libraries district that serves five counties over an area the size Massachusetts and Connecticut combined with a population of 278,000 people, the local Friends group is not affiliated with the district.

But the Friends support programs at the library in Grand Coulee, such as raising funds for summer reading and enrichment programs, after-school STEM and other enrichment programs and more.

The non-profit group has raised over $7,200 for basic supplies and updating technology, including a $6,100 grant from the Paul Lauzier Foundation.

They've provided funds for audio-video equipment, Chromebooks, digital microscopes, prizes and party supplies for programs.

And they support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and help put books, to keep not borrow, in the hands of local children from birth to 5 years old.

This year's officers are President Cathy Krohn, Vice President Sally McDowell, Secretary Nancy Brown, Treasurer Susan Kennedy, Directors Linda Sanford and Sheri Edwards, and Agent Dennis Carlson.

They can be reached at friends.gcal@gmail.com.