Woman finds community with 'Friends'

More than 10 years ago, Virginia Pittman decided she had taken enough from the library and it was time to give back. Pittman's husband teased that she "inhaled" books, rather than just reading them after her children grew up and moved away. After consuming so many books, she decided it was time to help the library and joined the Friends of the Whitman County Library, a group that benefited the county library and its 14 branches.

"Jack and I started to use the lib a lot and we thought it was about time we gave something back," she said.

Before she knew it, Library Director Kristie Kirpatrick suggested Pittman become the president of the organization.

"They were looking for a president and Kristie said 'you'll do' and 'I said I don't know if I'd really be good at it,' " Pittman said.

Now Pittman, 86, holds a state award for her efforts with Friends of the Library.

Earlier this year the Washington Library Friends, Foundations, Trustees and Advocates, an interest group for the Washington Library Association, gave Pittman a plaque for her efforts with the Friends.

"The (Friends of the Library) are a great bunch of people to work with and this award was quite a surprise to me," Pittman said.

Since Pittman has been part of the Friends group, they have been instrumental in raising funds for the $1 million renovation of the Colfax branch, which was completed this year. The state also recognized Pittman and the Friends of the Library for helping to complete the library's Rural Heritage project, which archives photos from around Whitman County that were taken decades ago. The Friends have also organized book sale events at Whitman County libraries.

To complete these projects, the group is in a constant state of raising funds through library events, setting up booths at events, selling raffle tickets or organizing other activities.

Looking back on her years with the group, Pittman said she's not only gotten the chance to give back but has also gained friends and a sense of community in the group.

For an example, Pittman found a box on the front door of her Colfax residence earlier this month from an unknown sender, with a simple message, "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

Inside she found an ornate table runner, a Christmas gift that was only connected to one sender, Santa.

Though Pittman is a professed believer in this holiday figure, she spent time sleuthing out who sent this gift and found it was one of the members of the Friends group.

"She was someone I haven't known except for the past year ... and I called her and said 'are you Santa Claus' and she laughed and said 'well, do you believe in Santa,' and I said, 'yes,I always have,' " Pittman said. "She did this beautiful thing ... You don't meet people like that very often."

Sarah Mason can be reached at

(208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by

e-mail to smason@dnews.com.