Friends Of The Commerce Public Library

Many libraries have a Friends group that provides support, runs the book sale, or conducts other fundraising activities. But unlike most other Libraries, the Friends of the Commerce Public Library actually owns and operates our Library.

The Friends of the Commerce Public Library is a non-profit organization established in 1954 to operate a public library in Commerce and in 1965 the organization received 501(c)(3) status. Since then, the City of Commerce has provided the historic building as well as some funding, but everything in the building that makes it a library (books, computers, local history items, etc.) is owned by the Friends. The Friends of the Commerce Public Library Executive Board oversees the Library's administration and employs the staff.

By becoming a Friend you are making a real investment in your library, and directly helping provide the resources, materials, and services that make our Library a great one.

Think about how you use the Library, or how your children use the Library, or your friends, or your neighbors.

Do you read books? The average cost of a new book is $25.00 so if you check out 6 books a month, could you afford to spend $150 a month or $1800 a year to purchase those same books?

Do you listen to audio books. A book on CD costs and average of $75. If you check out just two of those each month it will cost you another $150 a month to purchase them on your own.

Do you watch videos? If you only check out one movie a week from the Library, you're saving over $200 a year that a video store charges.

Do you use computers? You can get a new computer for under $1000 but Internet service will cost you between $10 a month for slow dial-up to $40 a month for speedy wireless access. Internet cafe' charges range from 12cents per minute to $12 per hour.

Do you get help with research or choosing materials? Do your children participate in the summer reading program?

So now think about what you would do, or your children, or neighbors, if the Library closed its doors. Can you afford it?

Nan Clay	Ernest Smith
Marc Clayton*	Otha Spencer
Isabel Davis	Mark Sullivan
Fern Ferguson	Fred Tarpley
Cleva Giddens*	Carolyn Trezevant
Elsie McKee	Cheryl Westhafer
Lizz McNamee-Wallace	Wyman Williams
Mary Miller