It was founded in 1979. The Friends is a membership organization. A nominal membership fee is required at the beginning of each year. Fees are translated directly into donations, gifts and services for the library and programs for the people of Lodi. Members receive a quarterly newsletter .
Meetings are open to all members and are usually brief and informal.
Many people cannot use the library because they are confined to a convalescent home. The Friends shut in program addresses this need through two volunteer programs. Book Runners volunteers transport books to people in local convalescent homes and later return them to the library. A second program places volunteer readers in convalescent homes. Readers often become devoted to their audience, sometimes serving in one home for many years.