Kern County Library

The Friends of the Kern County Library was formed in in the Spring 1953 with the intended purpose of supporting the library. In 1965 the group became an incorporated non-profit organization in the State of California. Friends of the Kern County Library, Inc. continues as a 501c3 organization of the State of California and as such, all donations are tax deductible. Donations may be specified for specific branches or may be made for the enhancement of the Kern County Library system. Through the years, the initial goals to maintain an association of persons interested in the Kern County Library system, and to focus public attention on library services and needs has continued to be the primary goal of the group.

The main organization of Friends is housed in Bakersfield, at the Beale Memorial Library. The Kern County Library System includes the 8,000 square miles of the Country and has 22 branch libraries around the county. It has become a goal to have each branch have the support of a Friend’s group.  Friends are volunteers who assist the library in dealing with donations, having ongoing book sales to provide some funding for activities and events at the branches and provide a voice in the community to support the library. Each branch group is an outgrowth of the parent organization and continues to receive support including a level of fiscal support. As a branch develops a group, we work closely to provide support for that group that will meet the needs of the branch. Friends’ groups are separate from the library but work closely and collaborate with the library staff. Organizationally the Friends groups in Kern County may look different as they work within their community.  Every group is composed of volunteers who accept and review donations, prepare books for sales and work with events and activities in that Branch.   

Each year the Friends parent organization provides funding support for summer reading programs and events at all the branches, including books, special projects and general support through book sales held periodically and ongoing sales of surplus books.  Volunteers help sort, clean, and prepare thousands of donated books and items (magazines, CDs, DVDs) each year.   

The Parent group has a Board of Directors elected for two-year periods. If you are interested in attending a meeting or would like more information, just contact us. The public is welcome and a simple contact via email or phone will provide the next meeting date and time. If you are interested in working with an existing group at a local branch, or forming a group for the branch, please contact the library supervisor a that branch, and they will put you in contact with the lead person.