LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It is still a great time to support your library.

In November, the Friends of the Lake County Library announced a fundraiser with the goal of raising $10,000 by Jan. 31.

The Friends want to raise $5,000 in donations which they will match, thereby having $10,000 to donate to the library for the purchase of books and materials.

At the end of January, the Friends were just over halfway to their goal. So it was decided at a recent meeting to extend the deadline of the fundraiser until March 31.

State funding for libraries over the last several years has been at an all-time low, leaving the Lake County Library to rely on the funding it receives from the small portion of county property taxes dedicated to the library.

Over the years, the Friends organization has worked to raise money to supplement the library budget with membership drives, book sales and donations.

With the loss of state funding and the pressure on property taxes due to recent fires, this mission has become more critical and led to this fundraising idea.

With its branches in Clearlake (Redbud), Middletown, Upper Lake and Lakeport, our county library system is a community asset that enriches the entire county.

Along with our parks, schools, museums, arts organizations and local media, the library system provides the educational opportunities and cultural enjoyment that make Lake County a place that we all want to live.

To help the Friends make this a successful fundraiser mail checks made payable to the Friends of the Lake County Library (a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization) to 1425 N. High St., Lakeport, CA 95453.