The Madison Friends of the Library has donated $15,000 to Madison Public Library.

The ‘Friends’ raised money through memberships and “many, many $1 book sales,” president Stephenie Walker said.. “Our bookstore in the library is full of treasures, and you can’t beat the price — used books as low as a quarter or up to a few dollars.”

Patrons donate those books for resale. “We’re 100 percent volunteer operated. Every penny we raise stays in our community and goes to the Madison library,” Walker said.

The donation will support the Children’s Living Library and buy new books, DVDs, databases like Novelist to locate new books and authors and special activities like summer reading.

Madison Friends of the Library was organized in the 1980s and was instrumental in building Madison’s branch in 1997.

Joining the ‘Friends’ “is great for patrons who love the library and want to go that extra mile to give back to it,” Walker said.

‘Friends’ members work in the bookstore, maintain the Children’s Living Library, plan programs, recruit new members or “even bake goodies for library staff. Ours is one of the busiest libraries in Madison County. There’s always something that needs doing,” Walker said.

In September, the group helped complete phase one of the children’s library. “We fund crafts and special projects for children’s librarians for them to develop their exploding young adult and summer reading programs,” she said.

“We’re always looking for new ‘Friends.’ If you believe having free books, movies, fun programs, computer access and quality academic and information databases is important in Madison, you’re a great candidate.”

Membership fees range from $15 to $100 (hmcpl.org/downloads/2008/2008_friends_membership.pdf).

Along with Walker, new officers are vice president Cindy Hall, treasurer Helen Townsend, secretary Roger Tyler and membership chairman Thea Coats.

The group meets monthly on the second Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Madison Public Library. For more information, call 256-426-8300, send email to madisonfriendsofthelibrary@gmail.com or visit Facebook/MadisonFriendsOfTheLibrary.