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Friends of RHPL

About the Friends of RHPL

The Friends of the Library is an organization that is dedicated to building a close relationship between the library and its patrons. We achieve our goals primarily through membership dues and fund raising.

Among the purposes of the organization are the following:

  • Promote knowledge of and informed interest in the library’s functions, resources, services and needs.
  • Encourage community participation in library activities.
  • Raise funds for projects, activities or acquisitions in excess of those provided for by the general library budget at the discretion of the Friends Board of Directors.
  • Provide support for programs for the extension and improvement of library services and resources.

We achieve our goals primarily through membership dues and fundraising. Print out a membership form and bring it to the Friends Store, or sign up online.


Look at our Amazon Store Friends Board Roster 2024 Friends Board Summary 2024 Friends Bylaws

Upcoming Friends Events & Book Sales

2024

  • Fall Used Book Sale, October 16 - 20
  • Parade Company Tour, November 7
  • 100th Anniversary Grand Prize Drawing, October 24
  • Quality Book Sale, December 5-7
  • Holiday Home Tour, December 15

Friends Library Store Hours

Monday
  • 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM
Tuesday
  • 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM
Wednesday
  • 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM
Thursday
  • 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM
Friday
  • 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM
Saturday
  • 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM
Sunday
  • 1:00 PM — 4:00 PM

Please note the Library Store will be closed if the Library is closed for any reason.

Contact the Friends

Friends Membership:
248-650-7160 become a friend.

Friends Events:
248-650-7176 find out about events.

Friends Store:
248-650-7179 speak with a volunteer in our store.

Used Book Sale:
248-650-7178 learn more about used book sales.


Email the Friends of RHPL Find us on Facebook

2024 Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library Raffle Celebrating the Library's 100th Anniversary

Each raffle ticket is $100, tell friends and family about this chance to make 2024 especially lucrative.

Why act as early as you can? We will have six early bird drawings for $100 from the pot. The drawing dates are February 27, March 26, April 23, May 28, June 25 and September 24. Note: Winning tickets from each of those drawings will remain eligible for all subsequent drawings and therefore have the potential to be a multi-drawing winner.  Drawings will take place at the beginning of the Friends board meeting at 7 p.m. at 500 Olde Towne Rd. in Rochester.

Want to wait until later in our celebration? You can do that too, right up until the fall.

Then on Oct. 24, there will be a grand prize drawing at the Friends Annual Meeting at 6 p.m. at the Library for 40% of all ticket revenue minus $600 (early bird winnings).

Winners need not be present for any of the drawings.

So, for example, if the Friends sell 1,000 tickets by the Oct. 24 drawing, the final lucky winner could walk away with almost $40,000 (minus withholding taxes) with $60,000 (minus printing expenses) going to the Friends to support the Library. Fewer tickets sold?  Smaller prize and less money for the RHPL. But someone will be rewarded for helping us out and you might be the lucky person who laughs all the way to the bank.

Thank you for your anticipated support and good luck!

Parade Company Tour Thursday, November 7th at 1:00 pm

The Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library invite you to attend a tour of the Parade Company in Detroit Michigan, on Thursday, November 7th at 1:00 pm. All proceeds will benefit Library programs.

Every Thanksgiving morning, while you are having a leisurely breakfast, you have the TV tuned to “America’s Thanksgiving Parade” and ooh and ahh at the many floats. Wouldn’t it be neat to see those floats up close and personal as they are being constructed? Now’s your chance. The walking guided tour of The Parade Company’s 200,000 square feet will last about an hour and will take you behind the scenes to see magic being made. All are welcome and the tour is wheelchair and walker friendly. FYI, the Thanksgiving parade in Detroit started in 1924.

Tour participants will meet at 9500 Mt. Elliott, Studio A • Detroit, MI 48211.

Click here for more details. To pay by check, print out the form and mail a check to:

Friends of RHPL, ATTN: Ron Meegan
500 Olde Towne Rd
Rochester, MI 48307

Click here to purchase tickets by credit card.

  • Join the Friends of Rochester Hills Public Library

    Why Join The Friends

    Membership in the Friends is open to any person or organization interested in the purposes the Friends have established. Through payment of membership dues, you help the Friends achieve many of our goals. Beyond that though, what’s in it for you?

    Friends members are eligible to attend the Friends Preview night of all Used Book Sales, having the opportunity to get first choice at the prime books.
    Friends members receive a 10% discount on all purchases at the Friends Library Store.
    Friends members receive the twice yearly newsletter filled with news about the activities of the organization and offering a coupon for additional savings at the Friends Library Store.
    Friends members help make possible the FREE programs that make the RHPL such a tremendous asset to our community.

    What's Involved in Being a Friend?

    You don’t have to do anything once you’ve paid your dues. You can sit back and enjoy the benefits. But if you’d like to feel that you’re contributing more to your library and your community, there are a number of ways in which you can do that.

    Everything the Friends does is done by volunteers. The Friends Used Book Sales are run and coordinated by a hard-working, dedicated and fun-loving group of people who have made our Used Book Sales the envy of libraries far and wide. You can help, and we’d love to have you join us.

    The Friends Library Store is managed and staffed entirely by volunteers who know the importance of unique, high-quality items and personal, friendly customer service. You can help, and we’d love to have you join us.

    What about the annual Friends Holiday Home Tour (formerly the Holly Walk)? 100% volunteer organized and run for 15 years by people who take time out of their busy pre-holiday schedules to bring the community one of its most memorable yearly events. You can help, and we’d love to have you join us.

    You can help. We are always looking for people who want to get involved in the good work we are doing. When you fill out your Friends Membership Application Form, which is available online, in the store and in the Library, just indicate what you might like to do. Or call the Friends Membership line, 248-650-7160, and leave a message indicating in what areas you’re most interested. Friends Volunteer Opportunities are available in many areas of interest. You can also stop by the Friends Store and fill out an application to work there, or call the Used Book Sale line, 248-650-7178, for information on how you can help with the sales.

    Friends Membership Annual Dues

    Individual
    Student
    Family
    Senior
    Senior Couple
    $20.00
    $10.00
    $35.00
    $10.00
    $20.00

    *Please make all checks payable to Friends of RHPL.
    *Dues may be tax deductible
    *Senior rates for ages 62 & over

    Buy a Membership

     


  • Donate to the Friends of Rochester Hills Public Library

    Please consider donating a financial gift to the Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library. All money donated to the Friends goes to support Library programs as well as providing funds for projects, activities, and acquisitions in excess of those provided by the general library budget. Examples of items the library has been able to purchase with Friends donated funds include: the aquarium in the lobby, the bookmobile, the second floor computers for use by the public, and the completion of the new second floor used book room, plus many more items. Also, when you look in the library's "News and Views" you will notice the Friends logo attached to many adult and children's programs that are underwritten by the Friends.

    Donating to the Friends helps to keep the Rochester Hills Public Library vibrant and up to date.

    Friends Board of Directors

    "The Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law."

     


  • Guidelines for Donating Materials

    Material donations are managed by the Friends of Rochester Hills Public Library.

    Per our donation policy, RHPL makes the final decision on acceptance, use, or disposition of all materials, donations, or gifts and retains unconditional ownership of same. The staff will consider donated materials for possible addition to the library’s collection using the same selection criteria as purchased materials. Materials not added to the collection or gifts may be given to the Friends of the Library for their used book sale. Proceeds from Friends’ book sales go to support the library.

    All materials must be in reasonably good condition.

    We cannot accept books that are dirty, moldy, musty, or smelly.

    Donations we can accept:

    Hardcover and paperback books
    Textbooks that are fewer than 10 years old
    CDs, DVDs, Bluray
    Books on CD
    Software and Books Encyclopedia sets in very good condition and less than 25 years old
    Records and Vinyl

    Donations we cannot accept:

    VHS
    Cassettes
    Magazines
    National Geographic Magazines
    Readers Digest
    Condensed Books
    Textbooks over 10 years old

    If you have a large donation and need help unloading it, please call the library before coming to make sure there is a volunteer available to help you. Volunteers are generally here Monday through Friday in the morning. For other arrangements, call 248-650-7178.


  • Friends Board Meetings

    All meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of the month in the Board Room, located in the Library's Administration Area and begin at 7 P.M.
    The public is welcome to attend.


  • Friends Volunteer Opportunities

    The Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library is an all volunteer organization. Its heart beat is the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of hours each year to plan, organize, conduct, and communicate a wide variety of activities and fund raising events to support the library.

    The list below is most of the opportunities. In every case, training is provided. Your service can be a few hours per year or several hours weekly. Volunteers develop new friends, learn more about the library and have a great sense of accomplishment.

    • Friends Library Store: Stop in to get an application. Job includes sales, assisting customers, housekeeping, opening and closing tasks.
    • Book Nook: Volunteer one day a week as scheduled to re-stock book carts, collect cash and record earnings, or serve as a substitute when needed.
    • Online Book Sales: Research books and other media to determine if the value is high enough to be sold online, list items on online websites, prepare items for shipping to customers.
    • Used Book Sales: Volunteer for a shift on one of the sale days as cashier, bagger, or book arranger. Big sales happen four times a year and smaller sales at other times.
    • Wine Wit & Wisdom: Annual event in the spring that includes speakers, a buffet dinner with wine and beer and dessert, and a silent auction and 50/50 raffle. Help with set up and teardown the night of the event, solicit businesses for silent auction items, etc.
    • Mailing: Label and sort mail to go out to all members. Two to three times a year.
    • Holiday Home Tour: Annual event second Sunday in December that features homes decorated for the holidays. Help with obtaining homes for the tour, arrange for sponsors, publicity, ticket sales, docent captain at a house, or be a docent yourself.

    If you're interested in volunteering for Friends of RHPL, please fill out either a paper application or online form. Your information will be passed on to the various chairpersons, and they will be in touch with you when positions are available.

    Print out an application Apply Online