Friends of the Richland Parish Library is accepting new members.
FORPL or FRIENDS is a group of individuals who donate their time and expertise to support, promote, and raise awareness of Richland Parish Library. They do this through advocacy, fundraising (such as book sales, cake sales, painting classes, raffles, etc.) and accepting of donations.
The FRIENDS Group is a non-profit organization that works with the library to support the entire library system, which includes Rayville, Delhi, and Mangham branches.
“Our Friends Group exist to support, promote, increase patronage of, and augment the resources of their parish library,” Mangham library branch manager Shonnye Mosley said. “They also provide needed funds for materials, equipment, programming, and beautification projects not funded by the library’s operating budget.”
The FRIENDS mission is to promote literacy in all its forms, to facilitate equitable access to information, and encourage lifelong learning and a love for reading.
Purpose
• Maintaining an association of persons of interested in libraries;
• Focusing public attention on the library;
• Stimulating the use of the Library resources and services;
• Encouraging gifts, endowments, and bequests to the library;
• Supporting and cooperating with the Library in developing services and programs; and
• Actively supporting the library.
FORPL promoted the Richland Parish Library in 2024 by:
• Purchasing two Richland Parish Library logo printed table cloths for library events.
• Purchasing two Friends of the Richland Parish Library logo printed table cloths for FORPL events.
• Richland Parish Schools Literacy Night – FORPL table which provided prizes for students and give-a-ways for parents.
• FRIENDS Painting Classes – FORPL furnished all needed supplies for monthly painting classes.
• Market 425 – FORPL Booth with free give-aways to everyone and two raffle drawing give-a-ways.
• FORPL Book Sale funding raising for Richland Parish Library Summer Reading.
• Richland Parish Library Summer Reading – FORPL Kindle Give-a-way to the top reader.
• FORPL Patron Appreciation Day – provided two dozen of donuts at each of the three library branches for patrons to enjoy.
• Library Workers Appreciation Day – snack trays were provided at each of the three library branches for employees to enjoy.
• Richland Parish Nursing Homes – FORPL provided 210 Christmas gift bags for nursing home residents • Homeless Shelter & VA Home – FORPL provided 100 Christmas gift bags for homeless and VA’s.
“We invite anyone who is interested to join Friends of the Richland Parish Library,” Mosley said..
Memberships are from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. Individuals or businesses can join FORPL with a $10 per year donation.
A FRIEND’S upcoming book sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 5 in the parking lot on the side of the Rayville Library Branch.
For more information, follow Friend of the Richland Parish Library on Facebook, or call Shonnye Mosley at 318-248-2493.
