Friends of the Library

Supporting the Des Plaines Public Library for nearly 70 years!

Founded in 1954, Des Plaines Friends of the Library is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that raises funds to provide gifts (programs, materials, equipment, and artwork) for the library. The Friends sponsor an annual used book sale and maintain an ongoing book sale shelf located on the first floor, offering used books, movies, audiobooks, and magazines for sale throughout the year.

Friends' book sales

Do you love quality used books at great prices? Then you'll love the Friends' book sales!

Learn more

Being a Friend

It's easy to be a member of the Friends. Complete a membership application and return it to the library. Once you're a member, you'll pay annual dues:

  • $5 per year for an individual
  • $10 per year for a family

Good Friend ($25 – $99 donation) or Benefactor ($100+) memberships are available too!

As a Friend, you'll help organize and run the Friend’s annual book sale and maintain the ongoing book sale shelf. Friends members also have access to the book sales prior to the public!

Being a Friends volunteer

If you love shopping at the Friends' booksales, why not help out too? The Friends need volunteers to help manage the Book Nook one or two hours per week. These volunteers also set up for book sales on the Wednesdays and Thursday mornings prior to all sales. If you are able to work for two or three hours, please call 847-376-2922 or email dpplfol@outlook.com and leave your name and phone number. You'll need to be a Friends' member to volunteer.

Donating Items

We accept:  

  • Modern adult fiction (both hard and soft cover).
  • Gently used children's fiction, any year.                               
  • DVDs.
  • Classic Fiction.
  • Computer/Technology related books published after 2020.
  • Textbooks, business and reference books published after 2020.
  • Health and medical books published after 2020.
  • Travel Guides published after 2020.
  • Condensed books.

IMPORTANT donation instructions:  

  • All items must be in good condition. Items that have at any time been wet, written in, show evidence of mold or have broken bindings cannot be accepted.
  • Items must be boxed or bagged.
  • If you have more than two cartons please call 847 - 376 - 2922 in advance to arrange a drop off time. If no one answers, please leave a message and we will call you back.

We don't need and will not accept:

  • Video Tapes.
  • Audiobooks.
  • Records.
  • Cassette Tapes.
  • National Geographic magazines.

Friends Monthly "Roundtable" Meetings

The Friends meet the fourth Tuesday of most months at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room on the second floor. There is no meeting in July and January. The general/annual meeting is in May and is held in a first floor meeting room. 

Contact the Friends at dpplfol@outlook.com or 847-376-2922 for more information. 

OFFICERS

  • 2022 Friends of the Library Officers Arlene Arend (Secretary), Debra Sus (Treasurer) John Leach  (President), and Karen Wierer (VP Membership)

    2022 Friends of the Library Officers Arlene Arend (Secretary), Debra Sus (Treasurer) John Leach  (President), and Karen Wierer (VP Membership)

    President: John Leach
  • Vice President Membership: Karen Wierer
  • Treasurer: Debra Sus
  • Secretary: Arlene Arend

What the Friends support

All year long, the funds raised by the Friends via book sales and dues support a wide range of library programs designed to appeal to diverse communities in Des Plaines. Toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens, adults and differently abled persons benefit from these activities that are made possible by the Friends’ dedicated volunteer fundraising.