Longtime volunteers were honored Sunday at The Friends of the Library of the State of Hawai'i annual meeting, held in the courtyard of the Hawai'i State Library.

Honored were Irmgard Horman, David Horman, Manya Levin and Joyce and Allyn Lai. Irmgard Horman has been working with the Friends organization so long that she's practically the only one left who can recall attending the first Friends of the Library Book Sale, held in a private home more than 65 years ago. Friends Pres. Susan Li said one of the things Horman has given to the organization over the years is "her family," including David Horman, who uses artwork from damaged and unusable books to create sought-after greeting cards that have helped raise a great deal of money for the Friends. Irmgard Horman is a past chairwoman of the popular summertime book sale.

Manya Levin has, over her many years as a volunteer, worked in every subject area of the group's year-round book sorting operation. She recalls when the Friends used a drafty, cold warehouse, and a year when they received so many books that the weight of the boxes actually collapsed the floor of a borrowed classroom building.

Also honored were the Lai family and their families and friends, who each year staff a booth selling shave ice, popcorn and goodies at the book sale to benefit the organization.

The Friends is a non-profit organization that aids public libraries through scholarship funds (for libraries to attend conferences and advanced education as well as for library sciences students) and grants for other projects, plus taking on the task of selling and dispersing discontinued books from library collections.

At the meeting attended by about 80 members, Li also announced two new members for the Friends of the library board of directors: Allyn K. Suemori and Francine N. Taba.

And Bob Sigall, author and publisher of "The Companies We Keep," and "The Companies We Keep 2," kept those in attendance laughing and wondering with a tough quiz on Hawaii history, specifically as it related to the library and the area around it.