Library After Hours at Indiantown library a success

The Library After Hours event on March 2 at the Elisabeth Lahti Library in Indiantown proved to be the most successful event in Library Night Owls history.

The event attracted more than 200 attendees from the Indiantown community and throughout Martin County. Entertainment was provided by students at Hope Rural School and Warfield Elementary, along with guest speakers Carol Matthews Rey and Iris Wall. Liquid refreshment was provided by A Picky Gourmet of Jensen Beach.

The Library Night Owls have been hard at work, trying to bring back a piece of the Martin County Library System’s storied history.

“The Story Express,” the library system’s bookmobile, was purchased in 1985 and decommissioned in 2002. Now, a burdened economy and the increasing cost of fuel have created a heightened need for a new bookmobile to service Martin County’s community members unable to come to the library – including stops at local child care centers and eventually nursing homes and community centers.

The Library Night Owls, a sub-committee of The Friends of the Martin County Library System, is led by Justin and Kelly Beard, Tara Biek, Stephen Leighton, Jennifer Salas and Tori Savard with the support of The Friends of the Blake Library. The committee was established in 2009 to help raise money to maintain and operate a new bookmobile, as well as attract new patrons and increase awareness of library programs and resources.

The Library Night Owls organized a “Library After Hours” social networking event series rotating through each of the library system’s six branches. Money raised from the $10 admission charge, which includes two drinks, hors d’ oeuvres and entertainment will go towards the “Bring Back the Story Express Fund.” With the success of the event series, the group has raised nearly $12,000 and recently presented the library system with a used bus to serve as The Story Express until funds can be raised for a new, state-of-the-art bookmobile.

To learn more about how you can support the Library Night Owls' cause and help bring back the Story Express bookmobile, visit library.martin.fl.us or call (772) 283-0019.