Library Friends still working on promoting reading in NMI

Thousands of books, magazines, video and cassette tapes and more were available for very reasonable prices yesterday when Library Friends conducted another book sale at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library conference room.

“We want as many books in as many people’s hands as possible,” said Library Friends president Maureen Sebangiol. “We encourage children to learn to love to read because once you love to read, you have a friend for the rest of your life.”

In all, over 4,000 books, 2,000 magazines, about 100 items between videos and music compact discs were available for prices ranging between 50 cents and $2.

“There’s a lot of readers on Saipan and one of the problems is there’s no used bookstores, and brand new books as we know are very expensive, even if you’re buying them over the Internet, so what we’re encouraging people to do is, when they have books, magazines, videotapes and cassettes at home that they’re no longer using, that they donate them here and then people are able to buy them,” Sebangiol said.

Further, Sebangiol said they are keeping the prices of the items down because many books are not only sold to children but also to teachers who collect books for their classes.

Established three years ago in hopes of assisting the public library, Library Friends has conducted about seven book sales, one of which raised over $800.

“Three year’s ago we started this little group and we’ve worked hard to benefit the public library,” said organization secretary Sheila Myers. “If we get enough books, we might have another sale sometime this December.”

Meanwhile, Sebangiol said the organization is on the verge of receiving a grant that would enable them to further enhance their abilities in providing services for their cause—promoting reading.

She said a project that is now being eyed is turning the library’s conference room into a children’s library, complete with a local cultural theme and materials.

Another future goal is to have a book mobile that would serve people who have transportation problems and can’t take part in the sales.

Aside from individuals donating items, Library Friends have also benefited from several financial contributions courtesy of Saipan Rotary Club, Marianas Visitors Authority, and the CNMI-Palauan Association, among other.

Library Friends will also be holding its next meeting on Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, 5pm at the conference room.

In addition, Library Friends is currently in the middle of a membership drive and all residents of Saipan are welcome to join.

In Oct. 16, 2004, Saturday, Library Friends will also hold a Halloween craft activity for about 25 children from 9am to 11am at the conference room. There is a $10 fee and parents must come to the library to sign up and pay in advance for the first come, first served program.