UM Library to Hold Fourth-Annual Family ‘Fun’-raiser

The (UMFPL) will hold its fourth-annual “First Friday in February” event this Friday, Feb. 3.

According to Cathy Gilmore, assistant director of the UMFPL, the event has been a popular with patrons of all ages, attracting over 350 people last year.

Tickets this year, cost $5 for children and $7 for adults, with the exception of babies in arms. The event will take place at the library from 6 – 8 p.m.

With the event’s popularity, it is one of the biggest fundraisers the Friends of the UMFPL hosts each year.

“This year, and last year also, the Friends of UMFPL have used the proceeds to fund our summer programs for kids, teens and adults,” Gilmore said in an e-mail.

According to Gilmore, fundraisers like the First Friday event, help to fund several special library programs, which included raffle prizes for reading contests. However, Gilmore continued that as the library’s budget waned in recent years, it has come to rely more on the Friends of the UMFPL for help funding such programs.

“We’ve come to rely on the Friends for all of our programming needs, as well as for funding support for the library’s online databases,” she said. “The First Friday event is more than just a ‘Fun-Raiser,’ it also provides local families, businesses and organizations the opportunity to show their support in a very concrete way for the library.”

“Plus, it’s tons of fun!” Gilmore added.

This year, the library’s First Friday event will feature

• Refreshments provided by local restaurants

• Nitendo Wii games

• Crafts

• and "The Magic of the Gustafsons"

The main feature of the event will be the “Magic of the Gustafsons.” As described by the library flyer for the event (see photo gallery), the Gustafsons’s act is family-friendly, laughter-filled and funny magic.

According to the Gustafsons’ website, the husband-and-wife duo has had a rich career in magical entertainment. Richard Gustafson is a past national president and member of the Society of American Magicians, the oldest and most prestigious magical organization in the world, formed in 1902.

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For more information, visit the library’s website www.uppermorelandlibrary.org.