COME JOIN US

Friends of the Potlatch Library

meet each first Thursday of every
month at 7:00 PM. These
meetings are open to everyone.
Join us at: 1010 Onaway Rd. in
Potlatch, Idaho.

FRIENDS
OF THE

POTLATCH LIBRARY
EST. 1998

For over 100 years, the Potlatch Library has served

as the communal heart of Potlatch, growing and
expanding with the town while providing a quiet
place for Potlatch citizens to read and reflect. With
the highest circulation in Latah County besides
Moscow, the library and Potlatch are inseparable.

At the Friends of the Potlatch Library, we strive to

represents the bond between our small town and
our library. We are a volunteer organization
dedicated to helping the library provide
educational and entertaining programs for all of
Potlatch. Our goal is to bring a sense of community
and culture to what would otherwise be just
another former logging town turned bedroom
community.

Despite our small size and limited budget, the

Friends have had some impressive achievements
in our nearly 20 years of existence. With the
support of local, state, and independent
organizations, the Friends are responsible for
raising funds for the new Potlatch Library while
simultaneously organizing yearly reading programs
for all age groups. We bring a high level of
dedication and support to not only the Potlatch
library, but to our community and county.

As the primary source of community support for

the Potlatch Library, the Friends handle a variety
of tasks, from winterizing the children's garden
and hanging lights during Christmas to organizing
reading programs and bringing in guest speakers.
During the summer, the Friends partner with the
national Collaborate Summer Library Program to
encourage children to read.

We have added our own local twist in recent

years, inviting speakers and performers like NASA
scientists, magicians, and Reptile Man, a local
herpetologist, to keep kids coming to the library
and participating in the program. Once school
starts up again, the Friends shift focus to an
adult-oriented Winter Reading Program, which
examines more challenging works and hosts
speeches by local authors, poets, and musicians.

During the summer, the Friends also organize

Potlatchs annual Dinner Theatre, a fundraiser/
dinner-and-a-show where community members
come together to eat, laugh, and enjoy
themselves. Held at Potlatchs historic Log Inn
Cabin, the Friends invite entertainers from across
the Inland Northwest to perform live in front of
the whole town. However, due to the
disbandment of several local acting companies,
the Friends are now seriously considering delaying
or cancelling the Potlatch Dinner Theatre due to a
lack of affordable performers. This is where our
action plan comes in, as we ask for any and all
contributions from the community to keep this
loss from occurring.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

While the Friends do raise money from a
yearly fundraiser, most of our funds go
towards maintaining and expanding the
library, leaving very little left over to host
high-quality entertainers. However, with
the help of local organization such as
Potlatchs Park & Recreation department
and the Latah County Arts and Culture
Committee, the Friends almost have
enough money to host Tim Behrens, a
Spokane-based comedian who focuses on hunting-and-fishing culture. With
a few small donations or grants, the Friends of the Potlatch Library would be
able to continue supporting arts and culture in Potlatch while maintaining a
beloved local tradition. Potlatch is not the only small town that loves its
library and the Potlatch Friends are not the only defenders of local arts and
culture. However, the sheer scope of the Friends activities and our nearly 20
years of continued success merit consideration; for a small contribution, you
can help ensure a vibrant local arts scene for the foreseeable future.

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Friends of the Potlatch Library is to increase
awareness of library resources and programs; encourage participation
in the library and its programs; we assist the library supervisor through
volunteerism and fundraising.