Until this year, the Moore County Library has had many patrons but no "Friends," at least friends in the promotional sense.

A group known as The Friends of Moore County Library System, a nonprofit organization established to support the library, is trying to fill the gap. Members are advocates for the library system by spreading the word about available services at the main library in Carthage and branches in Aberdeen, Pinebluff, Robbins and Vass.

At the Friends' first big "event" on March 26, Martha Currie Ippoliti challenged members to "dream big" for such things as "a fully appropriate building, with safe parking" and "a virtual library to serve you when you are away."

Ippoliti chairs the Moore County Library Board of Trustees and is a member of the Sandhills Regional Library System Board. She also serves on The Friends of the Moore County Library System Board of Directors.

"With frugality and hard work, we have a fine library system and staff that serves up a huge workload of services, with, in my opinion, a marginal collection of materials in some areas and a deplorable physical plant for the main library," Ippoliti said.

The Moore County Library is a member of the Sandhills Regional system.

For the 2008-09 fiscal year the Moore County Board of Commissioners appropriated $564,329 in local funds to support the library. In the previous year the county spent about $125,000 to buy a new bookmobile.

This funding provides staffing, building maintenance and custodial services and covers bookmobile operational costs.

Ippoliti said the library enjoys economies of scale that are beneficial through Sandhills Regional Library System, which provides access to collections in the region. The staff also benefits from professional support and collegiality of the other counties, she added.

Despite heavy usage of the library system, Moore County spends less per resident on the library than is spent on recreation and senior citizens.

Statistics presented show that Moore County spends $1 per resident on the library, whereas the town of Southern Pines spends $13.30 per resident on its municipal library. By contrast, Moore County spends $1.28 per resident on recreation and $3 per resident on senior citizens.

Not only are supporters unsure whether spending is adequate here, but Ippoliti also said that they do not know whether the programs, services and materials available through the library are serving the needs of the people.

The library is more than a repository for books, of course, and Ippoliti mentioned the availability of newspapers, magazines, DVDs, audiobooks, computers and miscellaneous materials containing valuable information, all free to cardholders.

Ippoliti asked the gathering to advocate for the library by spreading the word, lobbying the county commissioners and even applying to become trustees. In addition to donating money, the Friends can help by volunteering for the summer reading program, the used book sales and storytelling for children and other services.

"You can help define whether we are putting our tax dollars in the right place. Volunteer for what you'd enjoy doing," Ippoliti said.

Donations are tax-deductible.

Frannie Ashburn, library development consultant for the State Library of North Carolina, was guest speaker. Ashburn, who also serves as director of the N.C. Center for the Book, was introduced by Theron Bell, a library trustee and a founding member of the Robbins Library.

Clara Bryson Bernicken, president of the Friends group, presided and entertained everyone with colorful accounts of activities during her long career as library supervisor. She is now retired.

The event, held in the historic courthouse in Carthage, attracted library supporters from across the county. Those attending were asked to participate in a survey indicating their interests in library services and programming.

The next meeting of The Friends will be held Thursday, April 30, at 4 p.m. in the library conference room in Carthage.