CFOL | Blog

The Chico Friends of the Library is an organization that relies on its dedicated volunteers and board members to make an impact in the community. As a valued board member of the CFOL, Marian Milling has devoted 10 years to volunteering at the Chico Library since she retired.

Having worked with libraries during her career, she experienced the negative effects the economy took on other library organizations firsthand and has found the CFOL to be a perfect way of helping the Chico community to keep its library thriving.

Marian’s history in CFOL

Marian moved to Chico with her husband from Chicago, Illinois 14 years ago in search of better weather and the quaint feeling of a college town. They were familiar with the Northern California area because one of their two sons had attended UC Berkeley to study engineering. Chico was exactly what they were looking for in their move to California and Marian has been a member of the CFOL for the last 10 of those years.

Marian plays an important role in the CFOL as the secretary and as a very active board member who attends monthly meetings and plays a part in making important decisions that impact the library. She also works on the CFOL monthly book sales, which are very successful and benefit the library greatly. She even volunteers to shelve books in the library.
The best part about working at the library

Marian’s passion for helping the community brings her joy and satisfaction. Committing three to four hours a week allows her to help put things in order and ensure that operations run smoothly. Even though she does most of her work alone, she did mention that doing a group activity is always great when the people she’s working with are nice.

Marian has dedicated so much of her life to libraries because she likes to think of them as an American tradition. She said, “(Libraries are) a place where you can go and don’t have to be invited.” Libraries are a cornerstone of a community and she enjoys being a part of that.
Favorite Books:

Some of Milling’s favorite books by Ethan Frome include:

• God of Small Things
• Remains of the Day
• The Poisonwood Bible

ANNIE B’S FUND DRIVE BENEFITS CFOL

During the months of August and September  your contributions to the Chico Friends of the Library will be matched by a percentage amount by the Annie B’s Community Fund and by the Chico Community Grant program.  Be sure to make your donation through Annie B’s.

Now is the time to donate to the Annie B’s fund drive.  You can click on the above Annie B’s logo to donate online.  If you would rather send a check, make it out to

“Annie B’s/Chico Friends of the Butte County Library”.

Mail to:
North Valley Community Foundation
240 Main Street, Suite 260
Chico, CA 95928.

If you have shares of stock to donate, call the North Valley Community Fund finance office at 530.891.1150 ext. 25 for routing information.

SEPTEMBER BOOK SALES

All Butte County libraries will be closed on Saturday, September 5th, so our hardworking book sale volunteers will enjoy an uninterrupted Labor Day holiday weekend.  There will  be no book sales on Friday, September 4, or Saturday, September 5.  Book sales will resume on the following weekend, with the usual “First Friday” sale for CFOL members being held on Friday, September 11 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and the regular Saturday sale on September 12.

SAVE THE DATE

Honey Run Covered Bridge

September 27 marks the date of a fundraiser for the Chico library.  A Bridge for Books will be held at the Honey Run Covered Bridge at 1670 Honey Run Road at Centerville Road in Chico.  This historic bridge, built in 1886 and covered in 1894, will be the venue for musical entertainment from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m.  Tickets are available at $10 each.  For more information call 530-762-9385, or email contactus@honeyruncoveredbridge.com.

View from the bridge

Do you know someone who likes to be challenged by multi-piece jigsaw puzzles?  Does that person like it even more when the finished puzzle depicts the wonders of your Chico library and the joys of reading?  And what about the added benefit of supporting your Chico Friends Of the Library?  Purchase of one of the colorful 500 piece jigsaw puzzles created from a limited edition poster by local artist Steve Ferchaud entitled “Love Your Library.”  It just might be the perfect birthday, holiday, or “just because” gift for the jigsaw puzzle solver in your life. And it can provide hours of cool indoor entertainment during the hot summer days ahead. Visit your Chico branch library to acquire one of these unique items.  They are available for a mere $10 donation each!

Staff that work at library desks get asked lots of things; some of the questions are amusing. This isn’t from our Chico Branch Library but was posted on a blog. Library staff heard these variations as library users attempted to ask for the new Harper Lee book “Go Set a Watchman.”

People have asked for the following during the past week:

To Kill a Watchman

To Kill a Mockingjay

Go Tell It On the Watchman

Watch the Mockingbird

Go Set Your Watch, Man

“something about a wrist watch by that Harpo lady”

ANNIE B’S FUND DRIVE BENEFITS CFOL

During the months of August and September  your contributions to the Chico Friends of the Library will be matched by a percentage amount by the Annie B’s Community Fund and by the Chico Community Grant program.  Be sure to make your donation through Annie B’s.

Now is the time to donate to the Annie B’s fund drive.  You can click on the above Annie B’s logo to donate online.  If you would rather send a check, make it out to

“Annie B’s/Chico Friends of the Butte County Library”.

Mail to:
North Valley Community Foundation
240 Main Street, Suite 260
Chico, CA 95928.

If you have shares of stock to donate, call the North Valley Community Fund finance office at 530.891.1150 ext. 25 for routing information.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM WAS A SUCCESS

The Summer Reading Program wrap-up party on July 30th was fun for all.

PUZZLES

Do you know someone who likes to be challenged by multi-piece jigsaw puzzles?  Does that person like it even more when the finished puzzle depicts the wonders of your Chico library and the joys of reading?  And what about the added benefit of supporting your Chico Friends Of the Library?  Purchase of one of the colorful 500 piece jigsaw puzzles created from a limited edition poster by local artist Steve Ferchaud entitled “Love Your Library.”  It just might be the perfect birthday, holiday, or “just because” gift for the jigsaw puzzle solver in your life. And it can provide hours of cool indoor entertainment during the hot summer days ahead. Visit your Chico branch library to acquire one of these unique items.  They are available for a mere $10 donation each!