In the Fall of 1992, a small group of people met to discuss their shared dream of a library for the Lindale community. In April of 1993, after holding several fundraisers, sending open donation letters to the public, and countless volunteer hours, the Friends of the Lindale Library was formed. By December of that year the Friends of the Lindale Library opened the Lindale Library for business in a leased storefront in downtown Lindale. The Lindale Library opened for twenty hours a week with a children's section only. In 1995, the library was received into membership in the North East Texas Library System, allowing the library to receive grants, professional help and attend workshops. In 2002, the Lindale Library moved to its current 10,000 square foot building.
The Friends of the Russell Memorial Library (previously Friends of the Lindale Library) is a member-supported nonprofit organization that advocates, fundraises and provides critical support to the library. For over twenty-two years our volunteers have been the heart and soul of the library. Our purpose is to support the library, primarily by raising money through fundraising activities and providing a source of volunteers to work in the library and on library projects. By becoming members of the Friends, the community is provided with an opportunity to invest in the library by donating funds or time through volunteering. Every volunteer makes an impact on the funds that are raised and on the future of both the library and the Friends.
Some of our current annual fundraisers include: The Wine and Chocolate Affair, Ladies Game Day, Holiday Gift Baskets, the annual membership drive in February, and the ongoing “The Book Stops Here” used book store.
Mission Statement: Our mission is to raise money for operations, promote the library, and assist with and develop library programs that will bring in new members and volunteers. Our support is intended to bring educational and cultural resources to the community.
Friends of the Russell Memorial Library meet at 2:00p.m. on the second Sunday of each month. Please call the library (903-882-1900) to verify there is a meeting scheduled for the month. If you would like to join, please pick up a Friends membership slip at the circulation desk at the library.
Be a Friend and join today. Each and every one of us is essential to the success of the library.
The Friends of the Russell Memorial Library is a 501(c)(3) nonproft and all contributions are tax-deductible.