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Friends of the Library wins eBay grant, seeks volunteers and plans membership drive to support online book sales
Summary
Kathy Rose, a representative of the Friends of the Library, told the board the group won training access and materials from an eBay grant to launch an online bookshop, but emphasized the group needs Manchester-based volunteers, tech-skilled members and a clarified MOU/bylaws to move forward.
Representatives of the Friends of the Library described plans to set up an online bookstore after attending a two-day training hosted by another county's Friends group and funded by an eBay grant. Kathy Rose said the grant provided packing and shipping materials and that the group won an iPad in a drawing to help manage operations.
"We won an iPad," Kathy Rose said, noting that the grant also delivered a large tub of supplies and training materials. She told the board that while the Friends are optimistic, the online store will require inventory control, packing and shipping space and volunteers with tech skills to operate.
Kathy said the current Friends board has very limited Manchester representation — two Manchester members — and requested help recruiting four to five active volunteers or board members who can attend evening meetings and assist with logistics. Staff and trustees agreed to host a Friends' work session to draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU), a membership application and a brochure for prospective members.
Courtney and other staff said they would draft pamphlet text and that the Friends could expect a realistic timeline of having organizational work completed by August, after which the online project could move ahead if volunteers and storage are available. The board encouraged a membership drive and supported having the Friends rewrite bylaws or start from scratch if that would provide clearer structure.
