It's the annual membership tea for the Friends of the North Valley Library in Stevensville, with a big reason to celebrate. The Friends of the Library is 105 years old and the Library is 100!

Board members and members come together to get to know each other better and focus on the work of steering the library.

"We all wear hats - funny or other wise," said Beverly Helrich, President of Friends of the North Valley Library.  "We've done great things for the library - especially the past five years."

According to Helrich the first group of ladies got together in 1904 and rounded up books, a location and money enough to hire a librarian for $25 a month for five years - until the town took over paying the salary.

The first library was located in the town hall and there has continuously been a library in downtown Stevensville since the beginning.

"If no one has been to the library lately they should come.  We've worked hard on making improvements.  What books we don't have we can get.  We have a shared catalog with other libraries in the state and we can get a book in the next day," said Helrich.  "It's like having thousands and thousands of books right at your fingertips."

The celebratory tea time had such a variety of guests, from a Discovery Writer to an Archiving Specialist.  They shared their stories and why they love Montana. 

"Montana is where I should have been born," said Pam Murphy.  "I love this library and I love books - always have since I was a kid."

"I'm getting too many books at home," said Leslie Gannon, "that's what happens when you're a volunteer at the library - you just see so many wonderful books that you have to own."

"We are a very hard working group who likes to have fun," said Helrich.  "We are close knit, but we invite anyone who'd like to work at the North Valley Public Library to join us." 

In addition to access to reading material, there is the Spanish American Club that meets there Wednesday nights (for anyone wanting to learn English or Spanish), Children's Story time, and an exciting time of hands-on science experiments/projects for home-school children (see related story).

There's even a bonus - in celebration of the centennial you can return all overdue books - without paying the fine - for the month of October.

Contact the North Valley Public Library at 208 Main Street or call (406) 777.5061 for more information.  They are starting plans for the next 100 years. 

- Michelle McConnaha reporting for kpax.com