The Alpine Library Friends Association (ALFA) is celebrating its 125 year anniversary! ALFA is a non-profit charitable organization formed in 1900 by a group of local Alpine residents with the purpose of establishing a community Library. The first Alpine Library was established in 1892 within the Alpine Center School, which is located in what is now called the Alpine Woman’ Club. In the 1970s, the Alpine Library moved to a location on Arnold Way, but as the Alpine community grew, it was clear that the Library space was not adequate to support the Alpine community. After years of lobbying, a new Alpine Library was built and opened in 2016. ALFA was actively involved in the building plans and contributed approximately $650,000 for furnishings, fixtures and equipment for the new library.
ALFA is staffed completely by volunteers, from the Board of Directors to everyone who works in the ALFA Bookstore. ALFA’s mission is to support and enhance the programs and services of the Alpine Library through fundraising, promotion, programs, and volunteering. Through ALFA’s bookstore (located in the Alpine Library) and other fundraising activities, ALFA has continued to support and enhance programs and services of the Alpine Library. This past year, the Alpine Library was busy serving and supporting the Alpine community, welcoming 118,378 visitors (a 25% increase from the previous year) and circulating over 113,302 items. In addition, the Alpine Library, with support from ALFA, provided a total of 389 programs, with 9,231 attendees. Some of the past year’s program highlights included the Seed Library which distributed 348 packets of seeds, Animal Storytime with Ranger Nate, Mindfulness Classes (a series of classes focused on stress reduction through mindful presence and compassion), Trunk or Treat with The Alpine Club, where books, prizes and candy were given to 300 children, a real-time virtual birdwatching tour of Costa Rica, jewelry-making classes, the weekly Feeling Fit Club, a bi-monthly Ukulele Jam sessions , three different book clubs, and the James Hubbell Art Reception and Ribbon Cutting for the newly installed 15 x 6 foot stained glass art piece designed by James Hubbell.
ALFA offers memberships which are valuable and necessary for ALFA to continue to support the Alpine Library programs. Please renew or join today! Annual membership is $15 and the benefits include members-only ½ price sales at the ALFA Bookstore (the ALFA Bookstore has a wide selection of books, CDs, DVDs, and more, all at a great price), members-only events, regular updates on ALFA news and voting privileges at the ALFA general meetings. To renew or join, visit the ALFA Membership page (https://www.alpinelibraryfriends. org/membership). ALFA memberships also make great gifts! If you are interested in volunteering, please see the ALFA Volunteer page (https:// www.alpinelibraryfriends.org/ volunteers) for volunteer opportunities.
Please join us on Oct. 7 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Alpine Library Resource Room, to celebrate the 125 year Anniversary and participate in the ALFA Annual meeting. RSVP to attend at info@ alpinelibraryfriends.org.
Angela Fornataro McMahill is president of the Alpine Library Friends Association.
