Friends of the<br />
Portage District Library

Friends of the
Portage District Library

The Friends of the Portage District Library is a non-profit organization that assists the library with funding for special projects and programs.

Check out Our Ongoing Book Sales

Book sale proceeds help us provide grants back to the Library for items and programs that make the library such a valued community resource. You can always find a selection of books for sale near the Checkout Desk or attend larger sale events as they are scheduled.

Friends of the Portage District Library fund programs such as the annual Summer Reading Program for children and adults. The Friends also support other non-budgetary projects and programs at the library.

You can join the group as a supporting member or an active member. Active members volunteer to participate in various Friends activities related to the book sales. Memberships start from the date of purchase through December of that year. For more information, contact the Friends of Portage District Library directly at friendsofportagedistrictlibrary@yahoo.com.

Friend's FAQ


  • Who are we?
    Over 60 years ago, a group of people living in Portage thought it was important to have a library in their community. That was the start of the Friends of the Library. The Friends group is still a volunteer run, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that raises funds for the Portage District Library.

  • How do we raise funds?
    The Friends organization generates revenue by collecting annual membership fees and selling donated books, games, CDs, DVDs, and puzzles from the community. There is always a selection of items for sale near the Checkout Desk in addition to scheduled book sales.

  • When are the book sales?
    The Friends of the Library schedule sales at the beginning of February, April, June, August, October, and December. You can always find the sales listed on the Library’s Event Calendar. The public sales are scheduled on Saturdays from 9am-3pm. Friends of the Library member-only sales are from 4pm-5:30pm the day before each of the public sales.
    The sales are held in the Library’s Community Meeting Rooms on the lower level of the Library.

  • How do I become a member of the Friends?
    Annual memberships are sold for $20 and are available for purchase at each book sale in February, April, June, August, October, and December. You can even join or renew your membership during one of the member-only sales the day before each public sale. Memberships expire December of each year.

  • How do I donate items for the book sale?
    Donations are accepted during regular library hours. Small amounts can be accepted directly at the Checkout Desk, but you should call ahead if you have boxes or bags of items to donate. Checkout Desk staff can arrange to accept larger donations in their receiving area. Please check that donated items are not dirty, moldy, damp, or damaged. Movies, music, and audiobooks are accepted in disc formats. Textbooks, magazines, and encyclopedias are generally not accepted.