The Friends is a local, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of Wilmette's library by providing materials, services, and programming not funded by the library budget. Group membership supplies volunteer and financial support for a wide range of library activities. Friends' activities include an Annual Juried Art Show, Children's Art Fair, Scholar-in-Residence Program, special National Library Week programs, and the Summer Reading Program that attracts about 1,300 children.

The Friends is run by a ten-member board that meets every other month. Income for Friends activities comes from yearly membership dues and the sale of used books and audio-visual materials in the volunteer-run bookstore, Books Down Under. Meetings and membership in Friends are open to everyone, so come share your ideas.