About Us
A public charity supporting the Wichita Falls Public Library and its youth and children's departments, we also promote youth literacy with free books and 50 Little Free Libraries all across Wichita County. Book Store at 3124 Seymour Highway, Wichita Falls, 76301. 7,000 Sq. Ft. and about 80,000 books on display.
How We Got Started
Started in 1991 to promote and help fund a new library facility for Wichita Falls, TX. Now grown to over a hundred volunteers and large, fantastic facility with over 100,00 books available.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (14)
"Alan and crew provide a great service to Texoma, providing low-cost (and even no-cost at times)..."
Read more
"Alan and crew provide a great service to Texoma, providing low-cost (and even no-cost at times) books. 10's of 1000's of titles."
"Truly dedicated volunteers who provide a range of valuable support services for the library!"
Products & Services
Books on management, marketing, sales, personnel matters, financial controls, sales, even a section for women in business (or thinking of going int...
In
our 6,950 Sq. Ft. building, we have 100,000+ books that will
are sorted into 200 different categories: presently
general areas of Adult Fict...
Friends of the Wichita Falls Public Library carries a selection of hard to find books, early and first editions, and other literary rarities. Visit...
Recommendations Given (29)
"Julian Moss helped the Friends of the Library Book Store, doing a great job for us. We..."
Read more
"Julian Moss helped the Friends of the Library Book Store, doing a great job for us. We recommended them to a volunteer and we were told that Moss Electric did a good job at a very reasonable price for her also. Great start!"
"Friendly and helpful people at a Christian radio station that does all it (they) can to help..."
Read more
"Friendly and helpful people at a Christian radio station that does all it (they) can to help non-profit organizations and social service agencies. I love these people."
Recent Activity
In the past, we wowed our customers with the sheer volume of books (over 100,000) may of which are, or were, on shelves for all to view and purchase for 50 cents to a dollar. We have moved into a new building that will be the Friends permanent home. We hope to continue to wow our customers when...
(more)
In the past, we wowed our customers with the sheer volume of books (over 100,000) may of which are, or were, on shelves for all to view and purchase for 50 cents to a dollar. We have moved into a new building that will be the Friends permanent home. We hope to continue to wow our customers when we finish setting up our sales operation in the new building. Thus, our sales operation serves as a continuous fund-raiser although limited in amount. That is supplemented by online book sales, grant proposals (we have a building to pay for now), and additional donations by our book store patrons. Eventually, we will wow our patrons with air conditioning also.
Effective marketing techniques for NPOs include everything that any progressive business would use, with one special qualifier: go for free publicity whenever possible. Also, social media offers a dozen ways to reach possible donors, customers and volunteers at no cost except the time it takes...
(more)
Effective marketing techniques for NPOs include everything that any progressive business would use, with one special qualifier: go for free publicity whenever possible. Also, social media offers a dozen ways to reach possible donors, customers and volunteers at no cost except the time it takes to make it happen. Joint ventures open additional possibilities whether you partner with another NPO or a for-profit business. Use your imagination and don't be afraid to ask. Since you are not asking for something for yourself, it is easier than selling when it's your job. See Matthew 7:7.
The Friends of the WFP Library has not yet used a Google grant for adv. but plan to when we settle into a new location after our forced move. In the meantime, we have not had much to advertise. Alan D. Martin, President
(more)
The Friends of the WFP Library has not yet used a Google grant for adv. but plan to when we settle into a new location after our forced move. In the meantime, we have not had much to advertise. Alan D. Martin, President
Although we are a non-profit public charity, the book store that we operate helps a number of business owners and prospective entrepreneurs gain knowledge and background in their respective areas of interest. That helps us and helps the community at large and we always manage to get new people...
(more)
Although we are a non-profit public charity, the book store that we operate helps a number of business owners and prospective entrepreneurs gain knowledge and background in their respective areas of interest. That helps us and helps the community at large and we always manage to get new people in when we advertise the small business aspect of our book sales operation.
The first thought in my mind is look a joint ventures with similar organizations across the country. Cooperative operating agreements with those orgs could create a national network, and with each participating partner reaching out to more similar orgs, you might become a tremendous force for...
(more)
The first thought in my mind is look a joint ventures with similar organizations across the country. Cooperative operating agreements with those orgs could create a national network, and with each participating partner reaching out to more similar orgs, you might become a tremendous force for good. I wish you good luck and great skill.
1 Reply
Price is rarely an issue with our customers as we are all volunteers at a public charity, and will give books to people who can honestly say they cannot afford them--out of work, single parent, home--schooler, teacher, pastor, veteran, first-responder or active-duty military. Even at that, they...
(more)
Price is rarely an issue with our customers as we are all volunteers at a public charity, and will give books to people who can honestly say they cannot afford them--out of work, single parent, home--schooler, teacher, pastor, veteran, first-responder or active-duty military. Even at that, they frequently make some kind of a donation. Being friends with our customers is almost second-nature as we have our love of and respect for books in common.
Seeing children reading, smiling, sharing, makes all the work to provide Little Free Libraries and other opportunities for children to get books extremely rewarding. That makes the many hours of volunteering worth the time and effort.
(more)
Seeing children reading, smiling, sharing, makes all the work to provide Little Free Libraries and other opportunities for children to get books extremely rewarding. That makes the many hours of volunteering worth the time and effort.
The answers below, combined, give you a very good picture of the detail work you have to do first. Prepare, research, get help from S.C.O.R.E. or the nearest Small Business Development Center (SBA) or visit with the folks in the nearest university school of business.
(more)
The answers below, combined, give you a very good picture of the detail work you have to do first. Prepare, research, get help from S.C.O.R.E. or the nearest Small Business Development Center (SBA) or visit with the folks in the nearest university school of business.
A local TV station used to sponsor a hispanic-oriented monthly meeting, usually about a hour, It was interesting to meet hispanic people who ran businesses or worked in our city. I always invited them to our book warehouse and shared info. about upcoming events with them just as they did with...
(more)
A local TV station used to sponsor a hispanic-oriented monthly meeting, usually about a hour, It was interesting to meet hispanic people who ran businesses or worked in our city. I always invited them to our book warehouse and shared info. about upcoming events with them just as they did with the rest of the group. I also try to go to the monthly non-profit forums which are held at one of the area non-profit organizations or agencies. Not only is it an opportunity to see what someone else is doing in our town, but we get acquainted and often learn something new. No pressure, informal get-acquainted meetings are also held by the Chamber of Commerce. All of these are always fun, informative and may lead to a connection which will be (mutually) helpful in the future. I recommend participating whenever possible. Take lots of business cards and flyers or brochures, if you have them!
The Friends of the Wichita Falls Public Library operates a Book Warehouse (a tax-exempt org.) where we sell donated books and more: Hardbacks usually $1, paperbacks 50 cents, children's books 25 cents. We sell books of greater value (rare, collectible, sets, etc.) online through eBay. We sell...
(more)
The Friends of the Wichita Falls Public Library operates a Book Warehouse (a tax-exempt org.) where we sell donated books and more: Hardbacks usually $1, paperbacks 50 cents, children's books 25 cents. We sell books of greater value (rare, collectible, sets, etc.) online through eBay. We sell lots of books to resellers, some of whom come from all across the country as we are listed on "booksalefinder.com" and we give a lot of books away for free: Homeschoolers (usually return them at the end of the school year), teachers, future teachers, pastors, church libraries, veterans, first responders, other tax-exempt organizations, social service organizations and the city housing authority, county jails, our large prison and 34 Little Free Libraries. Most recipients of free books make a cash donation although that is not necessary. We get our dollar for a book and hope it will be read and not discarded. If someone chooses to try to resell it for whatever reason, we are okay with that. We have a 10,500 sq. ft. building donated for our use, and we have over 125,000 books in addition to CDs, DVDs, audio and video cassettes (which we give away) and lots of free magazines, National Geographic being the most popular. If someone comes in and wants a book or more, tells us he or she is not working, we will give that person anything non-fiction, especially if they are looking for information about a field of employment. We also have free tables outside (in good weather) for all kinds of books and more that are not really good quality but still intact, so those items are not just tossed into the trash. Actually, we recycle all paper, cardboard, damaged or moldy materials into compost (a city program) so they don't just go into the landfill. As a public charity, we do our best to promote literacy in our community and are happy to help anyone who wants to read and hopefully learn. We are on Facebook if you would like to see pictures of our facility.
1 Reply
