Friends of Library Celebrate 25 Years

Jensen Memorial Library is a cherished resource in our community, and supporting this treasure for 25 years is the Minden Friends of the Library.
It was 1987 when Chris Jensen and Crys Mach, library board members, met with Ei- leen Raun, Lucy Ann Dodge, Alma Lux, Thelma Jensen and Kay Lynn McBride to initiate an organization to support the library.
Consulting with Library Director Ellen Burchell, the group focused on possible projects and fundraising. That year, they helped with the summer reading program and sold used books dur- ing Minden Sidewalk Sale. Money was donated to the Library Building Fund.
With others, at the dedica- tion of the 1988 renovation, the Friends were recognized for their contributions of time and money.
As the years passed, the Friends of the Library raised money through memberships, book fairs, bake sales, dona- tions and continued to hold used book sales, donating the unsold books to the Salvation Army and Bethany Home. This successful fundraising allowed the Friends to support the library in many ways.
By 1989, the Friends of the Library had grown and had raised enough money to purchase a bike rack for the east entrance of the library. A microfilm reader/printer was obtained and the Ruth Armstrong Memorials al- lowed the purchase of 25 rolls of microfilm.
Later, the Friends accu- mulated $8,000 to buy a new microfilm reader/printer and the Friends funded the micro- filming of local newspapers for the library.
Microfilm storage cabi- nets, toys for the children’s collection, a bar code scanner, and a number of books were all purchased for the library in the 1990’s by Friends of the Library.

For the complete story, pick up The Minden Courier