Who Are We?

The Friends of the Tualatin Library was re-activated in 2004 when then-Library Manager Darrel Condra mentioned to volunteer Sue Nelson that there was a need for a membership support group. Sue joined forces with fellow volunteer Nan Bogdan and library staffer Margie Bradley to form the nucleus of the group. That first year they elected officers, held the first summer book sale outdoors, and started filling the Library's wish list for needed equipment and furnishings.  

In the fall of 2004 Friends members approached Haggen's grocery store manager with a request to hold the December sale in front of the store on a day when a Master Gardener presentation was scheduled. The manager loved the idea and suggested that the sale be held in the store's cafe instead. The book sale at Haggen has become an annual event, always on the first weekend of December. Throughout the day, store staff make loudspeaker announcements to remind shoppers about the book sale.   

Thanks to the efforts of members Maureen Richardson and Richard Dreyfus, in 2005 the Friends group achieved nonprofit status with the State of Oregon and 501(c)(3) designation with the IRS, ensuring that all donations to the organization are tax-exempt. 

Special recognition also goes to Joan Nicholson, Patsy Lamb, Norma Harris, Ekta Garg, and Flora Novarra for their efforts in the early years serving as officers, handling publicity, and many other tasks. 

When it came time to draw up plans for a new building, Library staff and planners included space for a Friends in-library book sale and a sorting room for donations. The new facility opened in the summer of 2008 and has been hugely successful.