The Friends of the Richland Library began at an organizational meeting held on October 3, 1962, in a private home. The impetus for such action was “the financial squeeze that is common to many libraries these days…” Officers were elected and a membership drive was commenced. By December there were 60 contributing members.

Selling used books at the library began in December of 1990. A storage room was cleared out, and the store was open for business on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

Currently, our bookstore is open most of the week, thanks to a wonderful crew of volunteers. Over many years, the Friends, through funds from book sales and memberships, have supplied many needs of the library from A (art work) to Z (zoo animal chairs for children).

The Friends of the Richland Library (FORL) is a registered non-profit business in the State of Washington. The organization has been classified by the IRS as a 501(c)3 public charity since the mid-1970s, and it is managed by a volunteer board of directors.