Ashe Mountain Times

Throughout the year, the Friends of the Ashe County Public Library welcome in various speakers for monthly meetings and the 2012 schedule is set.

All members of the community and surrounding areas are always invited to attend, be entertained, informed, reconnect with old friends and make new friends at the meetings. The meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month (with the exception of September), February through October, at 11 a.m. in the Friends Room downstairs at the Ashe County Public Library. Light refreshments are available at each meeting.

Speakers for the year will include: Dallas and Sandy Lassen, Feb. 22; Julie Townsend, March 28; Brenda McKean, April 25; George Kosinski, June 27; Dr. Patricia Beaver, July 25; Meghan Minton, Aug. 22; and Libby Bagby, Sept. 12.

The first meeting at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22, will feature the Lassens discussing genealogy research, resources available at the library and on the web and beginning the search for long, lost relatives.

Becoming a Friends member is easy: Complete a short membership form, review all the volunteer opportunities available and join a group of library supporters. Membership is only $5 per individual annually, $100 per individual for a lifetime membership and business memberships are $50 annually.

For more information, visit http://www.arlibrary.org, click on “Friends of the Library,” or contact the library at (336) 846-2041.

The Friends raise funds for additional programs, speakers and events at the library, including the summer reading program for adults and children, advocate for the library at both the local and state levels, and provide volunteers for the library in the way of reading to children in area daycares, shelving books, helping with library events, receptions and other ways as needed.