Irmo, SC 10/16/2022 - The Friends of the Irmo Branch Library will celebrate the 17th annual National Friends
of Libraries Week Oct. 16-22, 2022, at the Irmo Branch Library, 6251 St. Andrews Road.
An exhibit at the library will highlight the work of the Friends and volunteers will be on hand on
Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 2-4 p.m. to answer questions about the group. A non-profit, volunteer
organization, the Friends support, promote and help fund the Irmo Branch Library.
To kick off National Friends of Libraries Week, the Friends of the Irmo Branch Library are co-hosting “A
Gathering of Friends” for all 10 Friends groups in the Lexington County Library system from 2-4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Irmo branch. Other co-hosts are the Friends of the Lexington Main Library and
the Friends of South Congargee-Pine Ridge Branch Library.
Money raised by the Friends of the Irmo Branch Library, a 501(C)3 charitable organization, provides
supplemental funding for the Library to support children's and adult programs and for developmental
activities for library staff. Monies also fund the Friends of the Irmo Branch Library Scholarship for teen
library volunteers.
Founded in 1989, the 100% volunteer-based Friends not only supports the Library financially, but
volunteers also help as needed with programs.
Major fund-raising events include the twice annual Friends of the Irmo Branch Library Used Book Sale
and the yearly Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. The Friends also operate a small used-book store inside
the library.
The mission of the Friends is “to assist the Irmo Branch Library as it works to increase library services,
provide easier access to library resources, increase community awareness of library services, and
support and develop trained, knowledgeable staff.”
“The library has always been a special place for our family, “ said C. Grant Jackson, president of the
Friends of the Irmo Branch Library. “Libraries play such a critical role in democracy, and our Founding
Fathers knew that public libraries are critical to a healthy, functioning democracy. The first public library
in the United States was founded in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin. I’m proud of the hard work that
all of our wonderful volunteers put in to continue to make the Irmo Branch Library a special place.”
“Friends groups are critical to the success of the library,” said Kim Hill, branch librarian for the Irmo
Branch Library. “Not only do they provide much needed financial support through fund-raising events
and book sales, but also they work to expand our effectiveness in the community. Our Friends
volunteers have worked tirelessly to make the library what it is today,” Hill said.
Please visit www.friendsoftheirmobranchlibrary.org to learn more and to find out how to become a
member of the Friends.
National Friends of Libraries Week is coordinated by United for Libraries, a division of the American
Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of
thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate,
and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into
a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit
