About the Friends
The Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library was founded in 1986, and is a volunteer 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to supplement the Library’s annual budget for materials and programs and supporting literacy initiatives in the Chatham community. The Friends welcome new members and offer service opportunities for youth and adult groups.
The Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library are that and a whole lot more! Some of the other things the Friends do to make the library services better for our patrons include:
- Hosting the annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Fundraiser
- Sponsoring the Teen and Adult Summer Reading Programs
- Providing volunteers to help with various library programs
- Sponsoring the Library on the Go e-books and more databases
- Providing computers and equipment for the library
Friends of the Library Board and Meetings
The Friends of the Library Board welcomes any member of the Friends to join them at their meetings. They are typically on the 4th Tuesday of the month, at 6:30 p.m. The Board determines all fundraising activities for the year. They also vote on what projects to fund for the Library.
Due to the Pandemic, meetings are held online via zoom. If you would like to join our meeting, please email us at Friends@chathamlib.org.
Become a Member of the Friends of the Library
Let's be Friends!
Making a monetary donation to FOL establishes you as a member of the FOL organization for the current calendar year. Your donation will enhance Library services and provide increased resources and materials.
Proceeds from memberships help provide financial support for library services and programs like summer and winter reading programs/prizes for kids and adults, Friends of Genealogy group, Library on the Go, book club kits, art show prizes, Teen Trivia Night prizes and more.
You can donate by filling out the 
Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library Membership Form 2023 and drop it off at the Library's circulation desk, the Friends' Cafe & Bookstore or mail it to:
600 East Spurce Street
Chatham, IL 62629
Or you can pay online:
Give by shopping with Amazon Smile
Support the Library When You Shop on AmazonSmile
Amazon shoppers can help the Library by making purchases through AmazonSmile. A portion of your purchase price (0.5%) will go to the Friends of the Library, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile has the same products and prices as Amazon.com.
How it works
- To get started, go to smile.amazon.com, and log in with your Amazon password.
- Enter Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library as your charity.
- Shop and support the Library.
Volunteering
Anyone can volunteer with Friends, regardless of their membership status. Volunteers can participate in a variety of activities:
- Working at the biannual booksales held in the Library Galleries
- Staffing the Friends Café & Bookstore
- Acting, serving or baking at our March Murder Mystery Fundraiser
- Being a member on the Friends Board. Help guide the Friends with their fundraising efforts and determine how to assist the Library with their programming and equipment needs.
- Helping at other Friends-sponsored library events
Thank you for your support!
We hope to hear from you! Please contact us with how you're interested in serving!
Volunteering at the Friends' Cafe & Bookstore
One great way to support the Library and the Friends is to volunteer your time working in the Friends' Cafe & Bookstore!
Home Delivery
This free service is made possible for our patrons through the generosity of the Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library. If you would like to help with this program, please contact the Library.
The Chatham Area Public Library District is not responsible for any loss or injury incurred or suffered, directly or indirectly, to any person or persons volunteering in or receiving service from this program.
Volunteers will be asked to sign a Release and Hold Harmless form.
You can learn more about the program here.
Next Book Sale
We will not be having a January 2023 book sale, but we will continue to have pop up sales in the Bookstore. We will be back with another major book sale in July 2023!
Book & Bake Sales
Our 2022 Murder Mystery fundraiser was a resounding success! Thank you to everyone who helped solve our whodunnit. See you next year!