Peninsula Friends of the Library

PFL Began in 1961

The Peninsula Friends of the Library is an all volunteer membership organization founded in 1961 to enhance the services and programs of our Peninsula libraries. Membership fees and funds raised through book sales, The Library Shop at Peninsula Center Library, and other fundraising events are used to provide ongoing support for many library services and programs including:

• Summer Reading Program
• Sunday Hours at the Peninsula Center Library
• Internet access at all three libraries
• Volunteer Recognition program
• Library Update newsletter
• Special purchases of items for the library collections, furnishings, and equipment

The Friends typically accept gifts of books for the book sales and of cash. Donations to the Friends of the Library are tax-deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our tax ID is #95-3275918.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Peninsula Friends of the Library is to raise funds to support the Palos Verdes Library District and to build community awareness and enthusiasm for PVLD services, programs and needs.

History

American libraries have always depended upon strong citizen initiative and support and  in 1937 The American Library Association recognized this need and formed a Friends Committee to assist in the organization of such groups. Our Peninsula Friends of the Library was founded in 1961 along with more than 500 Friends groups in the U.S. and Canada.

Early Friends meetings were held at the art gallery at Malaga Cove Library. In August 1961 the Friends asked the library trustees to include funds in their 1961-1962 budget for the purchase of a second library site (which became Peninsula Center Library). Miraleste Library opened in 1971.

Over the years Peninsula Friends of the Library have continued the necessary support of our library district which relies on funding from property taxes (presently about 88%). In 1985 the Peninsula Friends of the Library pledged to raise $100,000 a year for the following 5 years to fund the capital investment required to go from card catalog to automation.

Currently Peninsula Friends of the Library provides nearly $300,000 to our district each year. Programs funded by Peninsula Friends of the Library include Sunday hours at Peninsula Center Library, the Summer Reading program, initial support of The Annex, Internet Access, the volunteer program, and more. Money is raised through book sales, the Library Shop, memberships, gifts, memorials, and grants.

PFL Bylaws as Approved in Dec. 2011

The Board of the Peninsula Friends of the Library appointed an ad hoc committee in August, 2011, to revise and modernize PFL’s bylaws.  The bylaws were last revised in 2007.  The committee met and submitted two drafts for discussion at regularly scheduled PFL Board meetings on September 1, 2011 and October 6, 2011.  The Board approved the version at its meeting of October 6, 2011.  They were approved at the December 8, 2011 general membership meeting.

Click on PFL Bylaws 2011 to read the new bylaws in their entirety.

Board of Directors

Jane Jones, President

Gene Roeder, Vice-President-Operations, Book Sale Chair

Richard B. Lohrer, Chair-Investment Committee

Nell Mirels, Secretary

Alan Kennan, Treasurer

Florence Marshall, Director

Debby Stegura, Director, Membership Chair

Glenous Absmeier, Director

Aileen Hoy, Director-Library Shop

Kitty Edler, Human Resources Chair 

Marion Martelli, Newsletter Editor

Cindy Miller, Hospitality Chair

Fran Pullara, Communications Chair and Historian

Development Staff

Judy Hessick, Director of Development

Aradyne “Charlie” Trujillo, Development Coordinator

Message from the PFL President Jane Jones

Welcome to the Peninsula Friends of the Library website/blog. Now that you are here, take time to click on all our buttons and links so you can familiarize yourself with everything we do. I encourage all members of the community, who are not already members of the Friends, to join the Peninsula Friends of the Library today. Do you see that link at the top of this page that says “Join the Friends?” You’ll find the benefits of membership and a form you can fill out and mail in to join. You’ll see there are several other categories of membership and support. The Peninsula Friends of the Library is a volunteer non-profit 501C(3) organization that exists for the sole purpose of supporting programs and activities at the Palos Verdes Library District’s three libraries – Malaga Cove, Miraleste and the Peninsula Center. Any funds raised or received by the Peninsula Friends of the Library must be used solely to support the mission of the PVLD and the mission of the PFL . Your membership dollars deliver a great return. In 2009 the Friends contributed approximately $300,000 to provide PVLD programs and activities for the community.

Income to support the Friends activities come from membership dues, book sales, the Library Shop at Peninsula Center, contributions and donations. This year the Friends established a Library Endowment Fund and have initiated a Planned Giving/Estate Planning program to support long-term needs of the PVLD. Please contact us to discuss the opportunities these programs can provide your in you tax and estate planning. In addition to their normal activities, the Peninsula Friends of the Library will be the lead organization in raising funds for the Palos Verdes Library District’s Capital Improvement programs for the District’s branch libraries. Join the Peninsula Friends of the Library and support our outstanding Library District!