The Friends of the Carleton A. Friday Memorial Library is a non-profit organization that works to support the programs of the library. More than 75 people from New Richmond and the surrounding area are members. Major activities include a summer reading program for children and occasional visiting author evenings.

My sister Barbara was the featured speaker at the 2006 annual meeting of Friends of the Library. Earlier this year, Barb published The Road Taken: Two Years in the Tropics as a Peace Corps Volunteer. The book chronicles her adventures when she taught English and helped prepare English teachers at Zamboanga del Norte Provincial High School in Dipolog on Mindanao. Her book details tragedies like the fire that destroyed much of Dipolog one night during her stay and having to view the body of a young woman who had been raped and murdered. But it also includes many light moments in and out of the classroom as she and her small cadre of fellow Peace Corps Volunteers lived and worked with friends and colleagues in the southern Philippines. The book is self-published and sells for $10; if you would like a copy, just email me and I will forward your request to Barb. Shown with Barb is Jo Hughes, President of the Friends of the Library.

Martin Springborg was last year's featured speaker. Martin teaches Photography and Art History at Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. He described how his second book, Proof: Ruminations on the Everyday, started with a project that he set for himself in 2000. From December 2000 through December 2001 he took one photo every day. The result is a collection of black and white photos that capture life in big and small ways. Together the collection of photos teaches us to see our world in a new way and makes us realize that the "everyday" can be exciting and beautiful. Proof is now out in paperback and can be found in many local bookshops in western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities or from online booksellers.

After a sprited discussion, Martin signed copies of Proof and posed with the 2005 officers of Friends of the Library. From left to right are Nancy Hansen, Jo Hughes, Martin, and Sue Meyers.