Friends of the Deerfield Public Library celebrates 15 years

Creating a richer experience.

That's the big-picture aim of Friends of the Deerfield Public Library, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary during a reception from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at the library, 920 Waukegan Road, in the upper alcove near the Friends' Used Book Corner.

"It's kind of a celebration of everything we've been able to help the library with these last 15 years," said Friends of the Deerfield Public Library board member Andrew Johnson, a Deerfield resident and pediatrician with NorthShore University HealthSystem in Deerfield.

The Friends, he said, were initially assembled in large part to help the library provide services outside its budget, and to help with fundraising for new programs.

The Used Book Corner was one of those offerings, as were train and Lego tables in the Preschool Pavilion and a "Baby Garden," a little indoor playground, also in the pavilion, for little ones "to be safe when at the library," Johnson said.

Friends supports programs such as the "Queer Poem a Day" series during Pride Month in June to help support local LGBTQ poets and artists.

Johnson said the group helped get the library's new MakerSpace up and running.

Among other programs and accomplishments, Friends of the Deerfield Public Library even stocks and replenishes a stand of paperbacks in the Deerfield Road train station for commuters and travelers to use.

Volunteers can help with things as simple, yet as important, as sorting and shelving book donations.

The Aug. 14 celebration will offer refreshments, prizes and a commemoration of the Friends' mission.

Part of this mission is to perpetuate it by adding volunteers to the cause. People can find more information starting online at deerfieldlibrary.org/friends-of-the-library; by calling (847) 945-3311, ext. 8895; emailing friends@deerfieldlibrary.org; or visiting the Friends' Facebook page.

"The more help we get," Johnson said, "the more we can provide for everybody at the library."