Save Our Library Hours!

The Ripon City Council is reviewing the 2010-2011 Fiscal Budget and the hours for the Ripon Memorial Library are at risk of being cut for a second time! Just last year, budget cuts reduced the library hours from 40 to 32 and now the City of Ripon is considering a further cut in library hours. This additional reduction in hours will have a negative impact on the entire community.

The Friends of the Ripon Memorial Library needs your help to preserve the existing 32 hours that permits the library to be open 4 days a week with FREE ACCESS to computers, library assistance, job search resources, programs, collection materials, homework tutoring and a safe meeting place for the entire community to enjoy!

Help SAVE OUR DAY by contacting the Ripon City Council now! Here's how!

Thanks to the Give a Day Get a Disney Day Volunteers

The Friends of the Ripon Memorial Library recently joined forces with Disneyland and the Hands On Network in celebration of volunteers! In support of this effort, the Friends invited 25 volunteers to participate in the Friends Almond Blossom Book Sale on Saturday February 27, 2010 in the Ripon Library Community Room. This was a wonderful event to raise monies for educational programs and collection materials for the Ripon Library. The Friends would like to thank all of the volunteers for their support and as a bonus Thank-You, each volunteer will receive a free ticket to Disneyland or Walt Disney World.

Friends Rental Collection Library

Tired of waiting for Best Sellers to hit the library shelves? The Friends of the Ripon Memorial Library now feature an ongoing Rental Collection Library just for you! This exclusive selection of best selling books are being offered to Ripon readers for only $2 per book, per week. That's right! No more waiting, no more holds! The Friends have got you covered for all of your favorite authors and their best selling books! Rental fees go directly to maintaining and updating this special collection of books. The Rental Collection Library is adjacent to the New Book collection at the front of the library. Rent.Read.Return, it's pretty cool!

Friends receive $1,500 SSJID Grant

The Friends of the Ripon Memorial Library are pleased to announce the receipt of a $1,500 Community and Education Policy grant from South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID). Through this effort, SSJID allocates a budgeted amount each year for community education and awareness purposes for non-profit, tax-exempt organizations operating within the SSJID service area. The Friends would like to acknowledge Fundraising Director, Dale Wild Jr. for his efforts in coordinating this grant opportunity. Through this grant, SSJID will provide water and/or energy conservation information to compliment this years Collaborative Summer Read Library Make a Splash/Make Waves themed program.

Save Mart Shoppers Rock!

Thanks to all of our Save Mart Supermarket Shoppers! During October-December 2009 3% of total purchases generated $1,373 for the Friends! This program has been such a huge success that Save Mart celebrated a record year by giving out more than $4 million to over 6,000 Northern California groups. Thanks to Save Mart and to all of the loyal Friends shoppers for your continued support of this program!

The Friends welcome sponsorship and donation opportunities. Contact Dale Wild, Jr. at 599-4801 or Lisa Suender at 599-5245 or visit www.riponfriends.org and click on Corporate Sponsor Opportunities

Needed: Book Sale Volunteers

The Friends are seeking volunteers that are interested in sharing their love for books by volunteering a couple hours a week at the Friends ongoing Book Sale. Students, teens and those seeking community service time are also encouraged to apply. Volunteers will sort and shelve ongoing book donations and will be responsible for maintaining a retail standard presentation. The library is open Monday-Thursday, 10am-6pm and we offer flexible work schedules. Apply by contacting Lisa Suender at lsuender@yahoo.com or call (209)599-5245.

NEWS FRIENDSHIP S.H.A.R.E.S. CARD!

The Friends and Save Mart Supermarkets are thrilled to present our NEW Friendship S.H.A.R.E.S card! The new card features the Friends logo and will identify our generous donors as members of the Friends. In addition, presenting the card at select Friends Used Book Sales will entitle card holders to additional discounts and pre-sale perks! Use your Friendship/S.H.A.R.E.S card at Save Mart Supermarkets and 3% of your qualified purchases will continue to raise funds for the Friends on a quarterly basis.

During 2009, shoppers raised over $3,000 for the Friends by simply presenting their card every time they shopped. Current cardholders can exchange their existing S.H.A.R.E.S card by simply visiting the Ripon Library and requesting a new Friendship/S.H.A.R.E.S card. This simple transaction will double your support to the Friends and will identify you as a continued Friends supporter!

The old S.H.A.R.E.S card are still active and can continue to be used.

 

Your Donations At Work

In 2009, the Friends expended over $30,000 for programs and collection materials for the Ripon Library.

Expenditures included:

• $20,000 San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors IPP Matching Funds Program (bringing $40,000 in NEW collection materials to the Ripon Library)
• $5,000 Rental Collection Library (patrons can rent New Best Sellers for $2 per week, per book)
• $3,500 Program Fund (monthly Programs & Summer Read)
• $835 Periodical Renewals

Community Partnerships for Literacy & Learning Program

During the month of December, the Friends joined forces with the Soroptimist International of Ripon and gifted $4,000 to Ripon School Libraries. Through the Friends Partnerships for Literacy and Learning Program, the Friends evaluate and support the Ripon community by performing literacy-based outreach efforts.

Each of Ripon's school libraries received $500 for curriculum enhancement materials for books, computer software and/or literacy based resources requested by teacher "wish lists".

In 2005, RUSD students raised $18,000 for the Ripon Memorial Library new building fund through Read-A-Thons held at each school. With the required $400,000 raised, the new library opened in November of 2006. The Friends and the Soroptimist International of Ripon are celebrating this effort by giving back and supporting literacy and life-long learning at all of Ripon's school libraries.

Thanks to all of our generous donors and library supporters for Planting the Seed of Literacy and for making Literacy a Friend for Life!