Fall is on the way, and that’s when the Friends of the Library gather for their annual membership event.

A cool evening, delicious hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and lively conversations are on tap for 5:30 p.m. Monday at The Petrie House, home of Pat and Larry Hardee, 610 Orleans St. No RSVP is necessary, and, no, you don’t have to be a FOL member to come, but we hope you will be one when you leave!

You ask, “Who are the Friends of the Library and what do they do?” The answer to the first is simple — community folks who have the common goal of supporting their library. Each September, they host a social event, “A Gathering of Friends” to elect officers, celebrate accomplishments and encourage memberships. Yearly membership is affordable: individual memberships are $10, families are $15, and contributors are $25 and up. The past year celebrated the largest membership in the history of FOL.

What this group does is not so simple. The many accomplishments of the past year include sponsorship of the Fourth Annual Chocolate Milk Café for young writers during the NLCC and the seventh annual poetry contest for third and fourth graders, generous support of the summer library program, donation of memorial books, support of genealogy research, the purchase of the online database Heritage Quest and approving the purchase of a flat screen television for viewing videos and special programs.

The fourth membership directory was compiled and mailed. The friends raise money for the Armstrong Library through the sales of the highly successful cookbook, “In the Company of Friends,” now in its third printing, and at the twice-monthly used book sales. Working with members of Grow Natchez Gardens, FOL secured a donation of beautiful crepe myrtles that were planted in the front of the library. This year the friends presented the winners of the poetry contest with Olympic style medals and a booklet of their poems. Listening to the young poets read their works and watching them proudly accept their medals was one of the most rewarding moments of my FOL “duties.”

In addition to book sales and membership dues, FOL raises money for the Armstrong Library with the annual Christmas Tour of homes. This popular event features private houses not normally open for tours.

While you are marking your calendar for Monday, flip on over to Sunday, Dec. 6 and save that afternoon. The tour of homes will be one of the activities making Christmas merry in Natchez this year. This year’s event showcases four homes, The Benoist-Stier House, The Coyle House, the home of Richard Hess and Riverview.

Join us for fun, friendship and fellowship. Come, bring a friend who is not a friend, and support the good works of the FOL. See you Monday! For further information, contact the library at 601-445-8862

Maria Bowser is the vice president and publicity chair of Friends of the Library.