It’s easy to call Mary Jean Baker a friend.
Especially if you’re with the Independence Township Library.
In 2004, she will assume the position of president for the Friends of the Independence Township Library.
“Everybody else backed up and I was just standing there. It’s no big deal. I’m just a volunteer,” Baker humbly said of her appointment.
The 56-year-old, who’s “M.J.” to those who know her, has been a Friend for the past two years.
“I used to come to the book sales and then I volunteered and started to help that way. Next thing I know I was here more and more. Now I chair the book sale and I enjoy it.”
The Friends are “dedicated to establishing a closer relationship between the library and the community.”
They provide financial resources beyond the library budget and have contributed with purchases and donations that range from display racks to computers and much more.
Though Baker is technically an 18-year Orion Township resident (Clarkston address, though taxes go to Orion), she prefers the Clarkston library.
“This is the friendliest library. I’ve met a lot of nice people here. I enjoy the camaraderie. Everyone’s great here,” Baker said, who’s also known as a Harley Chick and often rides her motorcycle to the library in warmer months.
Now retired after 28 years at Chrysler Financial, she’s happy to help the library out in any way.
Members of the Friends are asked to volunteer in a variety of ways like sorting books or helping out at programs.
Baker can be seen sorting books at the library many an afternoon or evening during the week, while husband Graham is away at work.
It isn’t necessarily a tough job, though Baker joked sometimes deciding what category a book goes in is. It’s simply fun to her.
“I’m learning a lot by sorting books –more authors that are out now, books that are going to be made into movies. They even have a new category now. It’s called Chick Lit aimed at young executive women.”
There’s a steady stream of book donations daily, keeping Baker and other Friends very busy.
“We get beautiful donations.”
In fact, they get so many donations, Baker recently spearheaded the Better Books Sale, now once a week on Sunday afternoons, tentatively scheduled to run through December. So far, the Friends have been collecting $50 to $100 a sale.
“It really adds up. That’s a lot of books,” Baker said, noting books range from 10 cents to $2.
With Christmas right around the corner, Baker and the Friends will begin wrapping books, for donations, at the Sunday sales.
“Hopefully we’ll have enough books for the spring sale. We might sell them all.”
The Friends hold a used book sale every spring and fall. At the fall book sale in early October, the Friends brought in $7,000. They’ve been known to have sales up to $8,000.
They also sell cappuccino at community events like the upcoming Clarkston High School Craft Show on Dec. 7. Typically sales of $50 to $100 are made at local affairs.
“All the money is donated to the library. We bought shelves, 10 tables last year, curtains to cover storage areas, rented scanning machines for three months…”
Baker explained library director Mollie Lynch gives the Friends a “want list.”
“We try to get as much as we can.”
Lynch said, “The Friends have been so supportive. They have furnished us with many, many things we couldn’t have afforded otherwise.”
“The Friends have been invaluable,” Beth Taylor said, former head of circulation and current Friend. “The Friends provide many things that are have-to-haves and some nice-to-haves. They’re kind of like Santa all year round.”
As president, Baker — who outside of the library loves gardening, dog sitting, and cutting grass on her “Jane Deere”— said she wants to get the Friends name advertised more and get more of the 200 members active.
“What you try to do is get as many people involved as you can and it’s hard. Some don’t want to.”
Overall, she said volunteering at the library is therapeutic.
“I went to the doctor last week and he told me to watch out for osteoporosis. He told me to weight lift. It helps the bones. I told him I volunteered at the library and lift boxes of books. He said, ‘Great, keep it up.’ So I’m doing it for my health too,” Baker laughed.
“She’s doing a great, great job. She’s so fabulous,” Lynch said, of Baker. “She’s such a hard worker. She does a lot for us.”
“M.J. has been a breath of fresh air,” Taylor said.
For more information about becoming a Friend, stop by the library at 6495 Clarkston Rd. or call (248) 625-2212.