Anna Maria Island is a great place to make friends. There are so many interesting activities to share with others. One of the most satisfying is reading, and the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217, right next to City Hall and the Police, is a wonderful place to do it. As for the friendship that can grow with this otherwise quiet and solitary activity, the volunteer support organization, Friends of the Island Library, is a great place to start.
For a very low membership fee, you can join other book lovers and help out with a range of library activities, from shelving books, to checking books to see that they are in good condition, to calling people whose special orders have arrived. CDs and DVDs need to be cleaned and shelved. Older copies of magazines and newspapers need to be found and discarded. There is plenty to do to help with special events, from setting up to greeting participants.
One of the most rewarding events is the annual book sale. This year $2,500 was raised. It will go toward buying new non-fiction books, a section that constantly needs updating.
The Board of Directors for the Island Library includes both permanent islanders and part-time snow birds, all of whom work very hard to enhance the quality of the library.
The library is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 am to 6 pm; Wednesday from noon to 8 pm; Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. It is closed on Sunday and Monday. From early June through the month of July, the Island Library will offer a Children’s Summer Program on Thursdays at 10 am. In addition, a teens program will be held on Wednesday nights during this summer period.
For information about the Anna Maria Island Library in Holmes Beach, phone 941-778-6341. To join the Friends of the Island Library, just stop by, and you’ll be supporting a good island facility.