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Greg Oliver

Phillip Cheney, reference librarian for the Oconee County Public Library, and Barbara Askew, president of the Friends of the Library, say the public library offers more services than simply checking out books.

WALHALLA — The Oconee County Library System, based in Walhalla, is holding its 60th anniversary celebration Sunday, and the public is invited to attend.

Sponsored by the Oconee County Friends of the Library (FOL), the celebration will take place from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and Friends President Barbara Askew said John Adams, president of the Oconee County Public Library Board of Trustees, and Sally Long, a longtime children’s librarian, will be the guest speakers. Refreshments, door prizes, consisting of books for children and adults, and cash prizes will also be part of the festivities.

“We want to bring attention to the library and what they do,” Askew said.

Friends of the Library has served the Oconee County Library and its Seneca, Westminster and Salem branches since its founding in 1985. The organization has 357 members and 11 members on its board, including, in addition to Askew, fellow officers Barb Holzman, vice-president; Claudia Hughes, secretary; and Ellen Plumpe, treasurer.

The impact of the Friends has been felt in many ways.

For example, Askew said FOL is responsible for book sales, which are held on the second Thursday of each month, and periodically on Saturdays. Twelve to 14 members work the book sales, conducted from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Thursdays and 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

In between, a work day is held every Thursday, in which FOL members straighten shelves and price books. Book prices range from as little as 25 cents to $10, and Askew said new 2008 hardbacks are available for $5.

Renee Bennet is the coordinator of the book sales, and Askew said the books consist of a mixture of donations and library discards.

“We bring in $14,000 to $15,000 per year and give half of that to the library,” Askew said. “All the money we contribute to the library comes from the book sales.”

Askew said FOL has also personally funded a “wish list of items” with the proceeds.

“We purchased new chairs, bookshelves for the director’s office for the bookmobile, funded the framing of pictures and sponsored the summer children’s program, as well as author visits by Ron Rash and Joan Ellicott,” she said.

Askew said the organization has also sponsored the “Let’s Talk About It” book series at the Seneca branch library, working through the South Carolina Council for the Humanities, and recently spent $5,000 to purchase CDs and DVDs that are rented to customers free of charge.