By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

The Friends of the Columbiana Public Library Annual Meeting is Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 1 p.m. in the meeting room at 50 Lester Street. It is open to all interested in helping the library, the heart of Columbiana.

“Grow your library!!! We need your support by joining the Friends group!” states the Friends membership application. “The library is the heart of the community. It is in the information center providing lifelong learning, recreation, leisure, culture and research. Please consider this an invitation to help support your library by becoming a friend.”

Memberships are affordable and are needed to support library needs: Individual $5; family $7.50; student and seniors $3; and club/business $25. Membership runs from July 1 to June 30.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Dutcha Lawson and her competent staff, Circulation Manager Sheila Gallups, Agnes Pool, Retta Authier, Barbara Todd and Mary Young, the library provides many services for Columbiana citizens. Children’s activities and programs include popular reading materials, homework help, story times with Miss Jeannie, craft classes, summer reading programs, movies and special programming. Adult services include popular fiction, large print books, reference materials, interlibrary loans, public access computers, knitting classes, reader’s advisory, fax and copier services and movies.

The Friends, under the leadership of outgoing President Jane Keeton, has been granted a 501c3 non-profit status and raised funds through the successful Central Alabama Antique and Appraisal Shows, last year’s Quilt Walk, book sales and bridge classes. These much needed funds along with Friends volunteers are critical to the library’s success. Through the Friends program, extra unfunded needs are met like summer reading programs, movie rentals, laptop computer, children’s craft programs and more.

“The Friends are an important organization that has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the library,” said incoming Friends President Phoebe Robinson. “I hope that everyone will consider becoming a part of this friendly group that is so critical to the success of the library. Refreshments will be served and a huge welcome to all old and new Friends. Please consider becoming a Friend and support the heart of our community, our library.”