

GAIL DeBELLIS WINS OUR 2023 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE GIFT BASKET!
Longtime Friends member Gail DeBellis was the lucky winner of the gift basket in the Friends' Membership Month drawing in March. The basket, valued at $175, held a variety of items from the Central Coast. Gail and many other Friends members qualified for the drawing by joining or renewing their membership on or before the last day of February, our annual membership month.
"I've never won anything before but maybe 3 dollars," the proud recipient said with a big smile. "And this was kind of a down day for me so please tell everyone thank you so much."
Thank you, Gail all the other Friends members who joined or renewed this year. We appreciate your support so much!
2022 FRIENDS BOARD PRESIDENT PASSES THE GAVEL
Outgoing President Susan Gillespie (center) passed the gavel to new co-presidents Linda Short (left) and Helen Kanda at the Friends general membership meeting on December 14, 2022. President Gillespie noted that the Board of Directors has been "committed to serving our community library in our belief that libraries are important for a thriving community." In 2022, the Friends worked to provide funds for materials and services not provided by the County through several fundraising efforts, including outdoor book sales, Amazon book sales, and silent auctions.
The Friends also assisted with the library's summer ice cream social; continued to support the Tale Trails outside the library; co-sponsored window displays with several community groups; collected supplies for disadvantaged community members; updated our website and newsletter; and continued to investigate funding a patio for multipurpose use.
The Friends Board also honored several volunteers who helped us sort donated books, collect silent auction items, and sell books at our outdoor book sales, among many other activities. Thank you, volunteers!


MARCH 2023 BOOK SALE BREAKS RECORDS!
Iffy late-winter weather failed to keep book lovers away from the Friends' book sale on March 18, which netted us more than $1,000--a new record for us! Plus, we received $265 in memberships; quite a few were new memberships.
The March sale featured a great selection of books, other media, and puzzles. All Friends members received two tickets for free fiction, nonfiction, or paperbacks. Every dollar we earn goes to purchasing materials and sponsoring programs not covered in the county budget.
Thanks to everyone who attended for supporting the Friends and benefiting our Nipomo Library!
THANK YOU, NIPOMO LIONS!
The Nipomo Lions presented the Friends with a generous $500.00 check in May 2022. Diane Jankowski, a member of the Lions Club Charity Committee, noted that the group had been unable to fundraise the past two years but this year hosted two successful golf tournaments to raise funds for local causes.
"We have donated in the past to the Friends and thought it would be good to go back and donate again," she said. "We like to keep our donations local and keep the money in the community."
