About

Friends of the Olympia Library are people living in and around Olympia who believe excellent library service is important and adds to the quality of life in the community.

As a non-profit support group, Friends work locally with the Olympia Library staff and the Olympia Library Board to promote the goals and objectives of the Timberland Regional Library within our local community

We all share a common concern – to preserve and protect intellectual freedom as guaranteed in our First Amendment rights.

Why We Are Needed

Your Olympia Timberland library is a branch of the Timberland Regional Library System, a tax-supported institution providing basic library services to 27 libraries in five counties. While we’re fortunate to have access to the collective resources of the district, there are many important programs and services provided locally which are not covered by Timberland’s annual operating budget. These programs and services could not be provided without the financial assistance and volunteer leadership of the Olympia Friends.

Friends serve as community advocates for the library and voice the community’s needs to the Olympia Library Board of Trustees. They also underwrite special library programs for children, teens and adults. A newsletter, mailed to all members about six times yearly (and now posted on our website), describes what is going on within the organization and in the library.

Board of Directors

Officers
Name Position Term expires Email
Mary Belz President 2012 mary.belz@yahoo.com
- open - 1st Vice President    
Irene Osborn 2nd Vice President
(Book/Art Sales)
2011 irene.bookworm@gmail.com
Elaine Nelson Secretary (Website) 2011  
Beth Dubey Treasurer 2012 bethdubey@msn.com
Board Members
Name Committee Term expires Email
Mary Applen (Outreach to Homebound) 2012 Mapple471@aol.com
Ross Lasater   2012  
Gene Little   2012  
Gayle Newsom (Membership) 2011 gawben@juno.com
Emmett O’Connell (Communications) 2012 emmettoconnell@gmail.com
Patti Paul (Inventory) 2011  
Lila Sjodin (Volunteers, Historian) 2012 glsjodin@comcast.net
Kay Tortorice (Sales) 2012 kaytort@gmail.com

Emeritus Board Members: Larry Bauman, Jean Finely, Mary Flannery Wanda Hedrick, Eve Johnson, Georgia Munger, and Winnifred L. Olsen

Olympia Library Manager: Cheryl Heywood cheywood@trlib.org