Celebrating 50 Years of Turning Donations into Gold!
The Blount County Friends of the Library (Friends) celebrates 50 years of supporting the Blount County Public Library (BCPL) this year.The Friends supports the BCPL by collecting donated books and selling through quarterly book sales, the main floor bookstore, and on eBay. eBay has expanded the reach of the Friends with shipments all over the US and many countries. Books are donated to local community organizations such as the Jail and senior living facilities. Over the last 20 years, the Friends has given over $1,300,000 to support the needs of BCPL as it serves the Blount County community.
Including:
- Music programs, Meet the Author and Book Signings, ComicCon, seed library, and more [link to BCPL calendar]
- Technology needs – software, hardware, learning programs, games for the teen area
- Expansions in the Children’s Library from more programs to a lactation pod
- Environment – furniture, table lamps, display cases, Café enhancements
In 2020, the Blount County Friends of the Library was named the FOL Group of the Year by the Friends of Tennessee Libraries. The eBay group with the Friends was recognized in 2019.
History
In 1974 a group pre-dating the current Blount County Friends of the Library (BCFOL) was formed to support the relocation of the A. K. Harper Memorial Library built in 1931.
The BCFOL was organized in the 1970s to create community interest and support for fund-raising efforts to build the McGhee Street Library. The BCFOL then became a support group for the Library staff and helped move the collection to the new Library.
In 1982 the Library moved to the McGhee Street location, but in less than 20 years outgrew that location.
The Library moved to its current location on North Cusick Street in 2002 (the old Sky City property).