The
Friend's through fund raising efforts and membership dues
provide substantial financial aid to the Library for programs,
equipment and logistics not available through County budgeting
or Library Foundation capital improvement funding.
Because of the generous support of
our members and donors, as well as the success of our fundraising
activities such as the book sales, the Friends of the Library
are in sound financial condition.
Where does the money come from?
Where does the money go?
Authority & Serial Control Projects
Updating online catalog
and periodical systems as well as to purchase new computers
for the library computer training center.
Library Programs and Supplies
Sponsor special events such as:
Edible Book Contest
– The Friends provide prize money to the winners
who construct the most innovative and clever edible books
representing book titles.
Hot Summer Nights
– The Friends donate refreshments and provide volunteers to
help with this popular series of summer concerts.
Children’s Summer Reading
Program – Provides books, craft supplies, and many
other items for the popular children’s program.
Adult Summer reading
program – Purchasing books and supplies to encourage
reading in the adult community.
Shakespeare on the
Lawn - The friends provide volunteers and financial
assistance to help with productions from the Knoxville Shakespeare
Company.
Veterans History Project
– Documents the service and experiences of retired military
personnel living in Blount County.
Native American Festival
– This year the festival featured Mr. Mcdonald, one
of the Navajo code talkers from World War II. The festival
also honored all war veterans and featured native American
crafts, songs, and dances.
Employee and volunteer
appreciation programs – Just a small way we can thank
everyone for their dedication and hard work.
Library programs and
supplies – The friends have helped purchase everything
from book carts and bike racks to matching funds for grants
to upgrade electronic catalog systems and improve online access
to library programs.
Children's Library
Sponsor special events for children including
the Summer Reading Program and Craft Times.
Young Adult Programs and Supplies
Sponsor special
events for Young Adults including the Summer Reading Program.
Supplies included furniture to update the "Young Adult"
area in the Library.
Volunteer
Support
The Friends Volunteers provide
support to the following programs; they are always looking
for volunteers to help!
- Reading program for local
nursing homes
- Books on wheels for home-bound persons
- Books for Soldiers – packages for our troops overseas
- Books for correctional facility residents
- Books for the Everett Senior Center Adult Education Program
- Maintenance of the Friends of the Library web site
- Collecting, sorting, shelving books for Book Sales
- Holding quarterly book sales
- Young Adult programs
- Summer reading programs and craft times for children
- Special events for children
- Contests such as the “Edible Books Contest”
- Special speakers
- Musical events
- Events such as Foundation Gala
- Meals and book donations to honor volunteers, staff, and
retirees
- Courthouse Christmas Tree event
Beginning in 2004 as "The
Book Club" at Morningview Transitional Care Center, Ex
Libris is a community outreach program bringing a wide variety
of resources from the library to residents of four local assisted
living facilities. Through carefully constructed programs featuring
short stories, poetry, anecdotes, humor etc., volunteer readers
provide bi-monthly life enrichment to that segment of the community
no longer able to get to the library. Since July 1, 2008 to
June 30, 2009, a total of 84 programs will have been given with
a projected 706 people attending. This represents 252 volunteer
hours. New volunteers are being sought and a Demonstration Program
of Ex Libris is scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2009 beginning
at 11:00 a.m.
The Book Discussion Group, originally
founded in 1994, still meets once a month and continues to be
a dynamic forum. Thanks to the BCFOL “seed money” which was
instrumental in the establishment of this long running association,
many county residents have enriched their literary education
by reading and discussing literally hundreds of books. Future
titles up for discussion, dates and times of meetings and other
information on the Book Discussion Group are shown on the Library
website.
The Library is unique in having it's own cafe.
The Friends were instrumental in getting the Bookmark Cafe started,
and while the cafe is now generally self-supporting, the Friends
help replace worn equipment as needed.
For the year from June of 2009 to June of 2010, as many as 12 different people worked at sending packages to our men and women all over the world. They have sent a total of 265 boxes of books, magazines and CDs or DVDs. They sent 105 disks, 3,950 books and about 200 magazines. During that year our generous donors have given $1,800 in postage money, and we have spent $1,460.50. Just when funds are running low someone always sends us a check, and we thank you all for that.
Pictured left to right are: Lee Downey, Harry Downey, Joel Richards, Cristy Mowery,
Jackson Richards, Neal Mowery, Emily Richards and Julia Webster. Read article in our newsletter!
BOOK
DISCUSSION GROUP 
