The Friends celebrated National Library Week (April 7-13) at the Belleville Public Library with a dance demonstration for kids on Monday, Tuesday was staff appreciation, Wednesday was customer appreciation with cake for all, and Thursday evening Kathleen Ernst, author of the Chloe Ellefson mysteries, spoke to a delighted audience.

On Friday evening, we celebrated our volunteers with a reception at the Lingonberry Llama coffee shop in Belleville. Burreson's Foods was honored as the 2018 Business Donor of the Year and Crystal Fahrenkrug was named 2018 Volunteer of the Year.

Crystal Fahrenkrug was named 2018 Volunteer of the Year.

Saturday morning was Family Day with this year's theme of "The library's goin' to the dogs." Rex and Kelsey Craft of Reflexx K9 Training brought four wonderful dogs and put on training, tricks, and safety demonstrations in the library basement. There was a stuffed dog Saturday story time with a dog craft and older children made braided denim dog pull toys. Refreshments were provided by the Friends.

The 3rd Annual Silent Auction ended at 12:30 p.m., Saturday afternoon, and winning bidders were able to pick up their items. Friends thanks all the business donors who provided auction items: the Corner Cafe, J&M Bar, Lingonberry Llama, the Post Messenger Recorder, Cluck: The Chicken Store, New Glarus Brewery, Landmark Cheese of Paoli, Belleville Veterinary Clinic and Sugar River Outfitters.

And thank you to the many community members who donated beautiful handcrafted items, nature photographs, toys, wine, mint brownies, and cello and knitting lessons.

It was a great week celebrating our Belleville Public Library.