Friends Supported Programs
- One Book, Everyone Reads / Wilmette Reads
- Summer & Winter Reading Clubs
- Books for Babies
Friends Give Back
Friends give back to communities in need by sharing excess book donations from Books Down Under. By being bigger than just our community, Friends expands its local footprint and shares the love of reading and books with others who don’t have access to books.
Books have been donated to: the Antioch Public Library FOL, the Evanston Women’s Club (for its children’s gift bags), Humble Designs, Bernie’s Book Bank, A Just Harvest, and the Kids Korner at the Lake County Courthouse.
The Friends have also gifted rare books to Northwestern University Libraries, Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and the Newberry Library.
In 2023, Friends raised $555.45 through a pop-up sale, resident donations, and FOL volunteer donations, for the Friends of the Maui Library to assist its rebuilding efforts after the destructive August wildfires.
Cecilia Clarke - President
vacant - Secretary
Susan Friedman - Book Room Co-Chair
Liz Allan - Book Room Co-Chair
Susan Morrison - Book Room Vice-Chair
Cindy Levine - Membership Chair
Judy Schnecke - Hospitality Co-Chair
Traci Bernthal - Treasurer
Jennifer Mullman - Marketing Chair
Friends of the Library FY23-24 Meeting Schedule
The Friends of the Library will hold their regular business meetings on the following Wednesdays at 9:15am in the Small Meeting Room on the lower level of the library:
- October 11, 2023
- January 10, 2024
- February 14, 2024
- March 13, 2024
- April 10, 2024 (tentative)
- May 15, 2024
All members and volunteers are welcome to attend.
Books Down Under
Books Down Under is open the following days and times:
Monday 11am-5pm
Tuesday 9am-5pm
Wednesday 11am-5pm
Thursday 9am-5pm
Friday 11am-5pm
Saturday 9am-4:45pm
Sunday 1pm-4:45pm
Volunteer for Friends
Work at Books Down Under and get involved: fill out a volunteer form and return it to BDU: Bookstore Volunteer Form
Donating to Books Down Under
Drop off donated books to during Library hours in the staff entrance vestibule, located on the northeast side of the building near the Library van parking space. Tax receipts available.
Donation Guidelines
We accept:
- Gently used books in good condition
- Fiction or Nonfiction, for adults or children
- Classics in good condition
- Recent Best Sellers
- CDs & DVDs in good working condition
- Sheet music & LPs
We decline:
- Books in poor condition
- Damaged/torn/broken bindings
- Dirty/moldy/water damaged
- Highlights, underlining, or markings
- Encyclopedia sets
- Dated nonfiction
- Outdated travel or technology books