Monday, Feb. 08, 2010

Lowe's provides $1,000 for books at Los Banos library

Lowe's in Los Baños helped community efforts in building book collections at the local Los Baños Library branch recently. The store donated $1,000 to purchase books for the library. With about an average of $20 per book, the Friends of the Library board members were able to order about 50 books.

"Our philosophy is being involved in the community and giving back," Mark Jones, commercial sales specialist, said.

John Spevak, vice president for the Friends of the Library, said board members appreciated the help of board treasurer and Phoenix Books store owner Joanne Hoefer in the book selections.

"She helped us determine which books the library needed most, and getting the best bargain for our buck, getting as many books as we could," Spevak said.

Hoefer and board members came to the conclusion that young adult and reference books were needed most. National library lists were referenced to choose what readers, and non-readers, may benefit from most.

"Our library budget is so small because of cut backs, so our only chance of getting new books is from donors," Spevak said. "We're hoping businesses can come through. We've all worked so hard to make the library an asset to the community. It looks good on the inside, but we need to have the guts of the library, books for the old and young, and everyone in between."

Spevak also said he appreciated board president Colleen Menefee and secretary Les Polacsay for their hard work. Jones said the store wouldn't have been able to donate anything without the help of Human Resources Manager Rebeca Molina, who coordinated the donation.

Lowe's, in conjunction with Valspar and Olympic, also donated 20 gallons of paint for the interior of the library in 2009.