Erin Dingle
Manager, Thurmont Branch Library

The Friends of the Thurmont Regional Library (FotTRL) will kick off their general membership drive during National Library Week! The official kickoff takes place at the Thurmont Business Expo at Catoctin High School on March 31, 2006 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and continues through the week in the Thurmont Branch Library on Water Street.

At the Expo, visit the Friends display table to see color plans of the Thurmont Regional Library slated to open in 2007, pick up general information about library services and find out about upcoming Friends’ activities to see how you and your family can get involved. During National Library Week, the Friends will also host a Henny Penny Puppet Show on Wednesday night, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. serving treats for the family after the show. On Saturday, April 8, stop by the library to Perk Up @ The Friends Coffee Café. The Friends will be serving coffee, tea and baked goodies to entice you to enjoy the ‘perk’ of being a friend of the library!

A small group of volunteers came together last year to form FotTRL and since then the Friends have been busy planning a variety of events. This year, 2006, as the Thurmont Library celebrates 50 years of service to the community, consider becoming a Friend to celebrate this important milestone and to support the growth of quality library service in Northern Frederick County.

Thurmont has enjoyed quality library service for 50 years and with the opening of the Thurmont Regional Library, service will extend throughout the Northern County area, adding additional levels of service for the community. Through the Thurmont Regional Library, the entire region will benefit from public meeting rooms, private study rooms, expanded reference services, access to the Thurmont Center for Regional and Agricultural History, an improved collection of print and audio-visual materials, expanded hours seven days a week and even a convenient drive-through window. Whether you have a special interest in a particular aspect of the Thurmont Regional Library, or simply want to get together with friendly, motivated library advocates, be sure to attend one of the Friends Membership activities during National Library Week. You’ll be very welcomed.