Lisa Lee served on the Friends Board in 2004 as a retail advisor and later joined the FriendShop team September 2004.
The FriendShop was first located in the northeast corner of the third level of the Central Library. In 2006 the FriendShop invested in better positioning the FriendShop near the 5th Avenue entrance on Level 3. This process took several months as the floor, track and expandable shelving system all had to be moved and reset into position. As everyone in retail knows, the key to a successful shop is location, location, location. We are now seeing much stronger sales and service results in the new location.
Every day the Central Library sees 6000-8000 people enter the doors of the library, and the shop strives to capture more and more of this audience. Daily we see people from every corner of the world: Australia, Japan, London, New York, Wisconsin, Snohomish and across the street. The shop serves those looking for souvenirs, birthday gifts, research tools and impulse items. Some even stop by on their way to a dinner party, looking for that perfect hostess gift!
There are many treasures to be found within that 300 square feet!
The Staff
The staff is currently made up of 25 volunteers, 2 paid staff and a part-time bookkeeper. Over the years the staffing, both paid and volunteer, has remained about the same fluctuating around our peak seasons of summer and holiday. Eight of the current volunteer pool have been with the shop since the first year. The shop and visitors really benefit from the experiences the volunteers bring; their passion for the library is what really makes a difference.
Why It’s Special
Every day we appreciate those who come to the shop - not only the volunteers who report every week but the customers who stop and visit. We love how visitors feel comfortable in our corner of the library; they can't wait to share stories of their own library and perhaps their shop or Friends group. It is as if they are coming to visit with a friend, a friend of the library.
Visitors are frequently amazed at the FriendShop presence in the library, which they often refer to as a museum. Some may expect to see museum quality gifts, while others expect to see used books. Most are just happy to see the FriendShop and are pleased we try to accommodate all.
The FriendShop is just one of the great pieces of the Central Library. The building is spectacular and we love being in such a beautiful space and are happy to help all who come to visit. In 2007 our customers voted the FriendShop as the number one specialty gift store according to nwsource.com . We thank our customers for their support and hope to continue to offer inviting artwork from Northwest artists, thoughtful cards, memorabilia and much more.