To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Maui Friends of the Library will hold an ice cream social from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at its Puunene bookstore, located at the Old Puunene School grounds.
The celebration will feature entertainment and children's events. The store will be open during the celebration, and there also will be a cookbook for sale featuring recipes from MFOL members, library staff and library patrons. Cost of cookbook is $10.
Mayor Alan Arakawa has proclaimed October as Friends of the Library month in Maui County, recognizing in his proclamation that "our libraries are the cornerstones of the community providing opportunities for all to engage in the joy of life-long learning." Nationally, Oct. 21 to 27 is National Friends of the Library week.
The Maui Friends of the Library was originally founded as the Maui Library Association. The library was located in Wailuku and included reading rooms run by the community. It later moved to Lahaina. During the early years, the community contributed all of the books and paid the librarians' salary.
Today, local libraries are part of a state system with the Maui Friends of the Library remaining as an integral benefactor, raising funds so that the libraries in Maui County can provide a children's summer reading program and special events during the year. Libraries also receive funding from the Maui Friends of the Library for materials and supplies beyond their state budget allocation.
The Maui Friends of the Library raises funds through memberships and by operating three used book stores on the island offering donated books for sale at bargain prices. The Puunene store has been operating for 23 years. In November 2011, MFOL opened a used bookstore in the Wharf Cinema Center in Lahaina, and in July 2012 the group opened its third Used Book Store - at the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Kahului. The Queen Ka'ahumanu Center bookstore will also observe the centennial with cake, cookies and beverages Sunday.
