American libraries have always depended upon strong citizen initiative and support and in 1937 The American Library Association recognized this need and formed a Friends Committee to assist in the organization of such groups. Our Peninsula Friends of the Library was founded in 1961 along with more than 500 Friends groups in the U.S. and Canada. Early Friends meetings were held at the art gallery at Malaga Cove Library. In August 1961 the Friends asked the library trustees to include funds in their 1961-1962 budget for the purchase of a second library site (which became Peninsula Center Library). Miraleste Library opened in 1971. Over the years Peninsula Friends of the Library have continued the necessary support of our library district which relies on funding from property taxes (presently about 88%). In 1985 the Peninsula Friends of the Library pledged to raise $100,000 a year for the following 5 years to fund the capital investment required to go from card catalog to automation. Currently Peninsula Friends of the Library provides nearly $300,000 to our district each year. Programs funded by Peninsula Friends of the Library include Sunday hours at Peninsula Center Library, the Summer Reading program, initial support of The Annex, Internet Access, the volunteer program, and more. Money is raised through book sales, the Library Shop, memberships, gifts, memorials, and grants.