Spotlight on the Friends of the Cape Girardeau Public Library Foundation

Stacy Dohogne Lane says she was always the kid in class who would hurry and finish her tests so she could read her library book until everyone else was finished. Years later, not much has changed: She's still a voracious reader.

"I think reading develops empathy. When you're in the character's head, you see their perspective ... and it forces you to see things in a different way," Stacy says. "The world becomes a bigger place than it's always been. You can even travel back in time and see different things."

Stacy serves on the board for the Friends of the Cape Girardeau Public Library Foundation, which helps raise money for additional books, DVDs and other items needed for the library.

"The library does a great job maximizing its budget, but it still has a finite amount for extra materials and technology," she says.

Betty Martin, director of the Cape Girardeau Public Library, explains that the library's operational budget is based on property taxes.

"The Friends were formed to pay for additional programs, services and equipment -- they purchased the library's first two Internet computers about 18 years ago," she says. "It's a wonderful way to support the library over and above if you're already paying taxes. For people who think a library is an important asset to a community, this is one more step to support it."

The Friends are also behind some of the special events hosted at the library, such as summer reading programs and a recent "Frozen" movie night, plus guest artists, musicians, puppeteers and more.

Anyone can become a Friend of the Library by donating as little as $20. Friends get a newsletter, a sneak peek of the library book sales, advance notice and reservations for library events, and "Friends Bucks" that can be used at book sales and to purchase coffee and book bags. For more information about the Friends of the Library, call 573-334-5279 or visit www.capelibrary.org.