February 1, 2013. (South Orange, NJ)

LIBRARIES NEED FRIENDS AND THE SOUTH ORANGE PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS THEM!

By Roger Baron

                Every public library needs a group of friends to help bolster its reputation, get as many people as possible to come to the Library and enjoy its educational, informational, and cultural services. The South Orange Public Library has its own group of “Friends” who want to help you do just that.

The Friends of the South Orange Public Library is a nonprofit group of volunteers who are devoted to enhancing and promoting Library services and activities. The Friends of the SOPL do many things to improve and promote our Library including: buying new books and materials, purchasing toys and books for the Children’s Room, sponsoring a summer reading program for children, holding an annual book sale in the spring, meeting with local and state governments to advocate for the Library, and funding the restoration and digitization of local historical documents.

Another thing that the FOSOPL does is operate The Book Cage, a secondhand book store inside the Library. The Book Cage, located on the third floor of the Library, offers hardcover and paperback books as well as DVD’s for sale. The store hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 1pm to 3pm, Wednesday, 4pm to 6pm, and Saturday, 2pm to 4pm (except in summer). All sales generated by the Book Cage support the Library.

Anyone who wants to support the Library by joining the Friends of the South Orange Public Library can fill out a membership form or contact The Friend’s website, which is http://sites.google.com/site/friendsofsopl. The Library is located on 65 Scotland Road in South Orange and can be reached at (973) 762-0230.