Membership is open to individuals, families, businesses and other organizations, regardless of JPL card-holder status or city of residence.

Thriving communities need strong library programs and services. The Friends group will help JPL better serve our community by expanding and growing services. Membership dues will allow the group to provide financial support beyond the library's annual operating budget, allowing for the sponsorship of special events such as author visits, and encourage volunteerism work with the library.

Over the past several months, a board of six working with the Library director and a member of the Joplin Public Library Board have successfully incorporated, drafted and adopted by-laws, attained 501(C)(3) status and developed short- and long-term goals.

The Friends board members have a variety of experience in library board membership, other community 501(C)(3) organizations and as users of the Library. The Joplin Public Library Board has endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of the Joplin Public Library Board, clearing the way for the organizations to work together.

To build on this firm foundation, the Friends board needs interested partners to help identify and contact potential members. The goal is to launch a membership drive as the Library prepares to celebrate five years in its new building and 120 years of service to Joplin.

Thriving communities need strong library programs and services. Thriving libraries can better serve their community when partnered with users that desire to help see library programs grow and expand. Friends groups exist for this purpose.

Individual, family and other types of memberships will provide financial support beyond the Library's annual operating budget. The Friends will sponsor special events, such as author visits, and encourage volunteer work with the Library, such as annual book sales and delivering books to the homebound. Participation can vary according to interest and ability. The Friends will encourage gifts and bequests to the Library and engage in services that are deemed helpful to the Library mission. All of this will be in cooperation with the Library Board and its director as they will have final say in gifts accepted and activities carried out for the Library.