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WHEELING — The city of Wheeling has proclaimed this week as National Friends of the Library Week, encouraging citizens to join in thanking the organization for all it does for the Ohio County Public Library and the community.

Mayor Denny Magruder and members of Wheeling City Council issued a proclamation designating Oct. 20-26 as National Friends of the Library Week. Officials from the all-volunteer, non-profit organization accepted the proclamation during council’s most recent meeting.

“Our Friends’ long-time support of the Ohio County Public Library is an example of the vital role volunteers play in our community,” Magruder said. “Their dedication is a demonstration of their commitment to the library and the library’s mission to connect our community with each other and the world, providing opportunities to read, learn, meet and discover.”

In 1976, the Friends of the Ohio County Public Library began the Lunch With Books program, which has provided enrichment and enjoyment to citizens throughout the area, the proclamation noted.

The weekly Lunch With Books programs are free and typically take place at noon on Tuesdays in the downstairs conference room at the library on 16th Street downtown.

“I do attend the Lunch With Books programs,” the mayor added. “I was there today – what an amazing job you all do.”

Many improvements and enhancements to the Ohio County Public Library have been made possible because of the support provided by the Friends of the Library, officials noted. The Friends raise money for library needs, sponsor programs for all ages, encourage community support for the Ohio County Public Library and support literacy by supporting the availability of free reading materials and offering inexpensive materials at semi-annual book sales.

City leaders joined libraries across the country in celebrating their strongest and most dedicated supporters – their Friends organizations – this week and throughout the month of October.

Charles Julian, president of the Friends of the Ohio County Public Library, noted that the organization was recently revamped.

“We have been in existence – the newly revived Friends of the Library – for just about eight or nine months now,” Julian said. “One of the big pushes for us to get reorganized was to assist with passing the library levy in the primary election. That was a very big achievement which will help the library funding to be more stable and will increase their funds out of the excess levy. So that was a big plus for us.”

Voters in Ohio County soundly passed the library levy back in May by a vote of 7,945 in favor and 2,337 against. The levy is expected to generate about $1 million annually.

Julian said membership at the Friends of the Library is also picking up, and more are always welcome and encouraged to join.

“We’ve just past 100 members, which is great,” he said. “We’d be delighted to have more members. Our major focus is to promote and to support the library – to make it the success that it is and to help it continue to improve.”

Those interested in joining the Friends of the Library, stop by the Ohio County Public Library or check out additional information online on the library’s website www.ohiocountylibrary.org.