Lake County Gazette

The Warren-Newport Public Library is marking National Friends of Libraries Week, which runs from October 19 to 25. The week highlights the contributions of Friends of Libraries groups nationwide.

At Warren-Newport Public Library (WNPL), the Friends group consists of local volunteers who support the library through fundraising, advocacy, and programs. According to a statement from the library, "The Friends are community volunteers dedicated to supporting the library through fundraising, programs, and advocacy. They believe that a strong library is essential to the intellectual and cultural growth of our community."

Each year, the Friends contribute more than $30,000 to support various library initiatives for people of all ages. Their funding helps sustain summer reading and literacy efforts such as the annual Creative Writing Contest and a recently introduced 100 Books Before College Scholarship. They also provide resources for new technology and equipment that serve library patrons.

Community members interested in joining can do so by completing a membership form available at the Welcome Desk or by mail. The organization encourages residents to invite others to participate as well.

The library expressed its appreciation for these efforts: "We are deeply thankful for our Friends and their ongoing commitment to making our library thrive."