The Friends of the Mason County M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library presented a check to the library, which will go toward the purchase of new books, audio books, and other materials. The Spring Book & Bake Sale held at the end of March and beginning of April, was chaired by Carolyn Phillips and made this check of $3,500 possible.

The Friends of the Library gives their hearty thanks to everyone who helped with the sale, to the officers and members of the Friends, and to everyone who donated books and those who came in to purchase books, tapes, CDs, and goodies. Your help is greatly appreciated.

In the past, the Loan Star Libraries Grants programs provided about half the new book budget for our M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library. The other half came from the Friends of the Library and the Mason Study Club. However, because of recent legislative cuts, the Loan Star Grants Program has been discontinued. Now all money for the purchase of new books and materials must be raised locally. The funds provided by the county for the library cover the building, salaries, and maintenance but they do not cover the purchase of books. The Friends of the Library organization is working hard to close the gap.

As a publically funded entity, the library is not allowed to do any fundraising for itself. The Friends of the Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association that is dedicated to raising funds for the library and to raising support for the library in the area served by the library.

“Friends” organizations across the country are 501(c)(3) fundraising agencies for public entities that are not allowed to do any fundraising for themselves. This includes any libraries, museums, or other institutions that are funded through a city, county, or state government. Such institutions may seek supplementary funds through grants, but may not do any direct fundraising for themselves.