Friends of the Libraries of Towns County Newsletter
Volume 11 Number 2 March 2010Comments from FOL President Marilyn Pierce
Our Mountain Regional Library System was well-represented at the advocacy day sponsored by the Georgia Council for Public Libraries, which was held on February 3 at the Capitol. As its name implies, the Council advocates for public libraries and believes that state funding is the key to ensuring that every citizen of Georgia has free and open access to a public library and all it provides. This was the first time that public libraries had a special day of their own, rather than sharing it with private and school libraries, in order to put forth their message - that the state legislature make no further cuts to the budget, but leave it at the FY2009 level. In addition, the Council would like construction projects to continue to be funded based on prior recommendations. Anyone wishing to make their own thoughts known is encouraged to write to their legislators.
Volunteers are needed! The Towns County Public Library needs volunteers to help shelve books. Familiarity with the Dewey Decimal System would be helpful. Volunteers will also be needed at the children's summer reading programs, so that children can receive help with their projects.
The summer reading program will continue, however, Linda Foster, our Children's Program Coordinator, is retiring at the end of March after many years. She has provided fun and a greater appreciation of reading at story times and summer reading programs for our children. She will be greatly missed!
The Spring Book Sale is coming up, and will be held on April 22, 23, and 24, with the 22nd welcoming Friends members only. Contributions are welcome, so please drop off any books you have already read. Workers are always needed for the book sale, so please plan to attend our next meeting - Tuesday, April 6, at 10:30 am at the Mountain Regional Library. Volunteers may choose from a wide variety of tasks, so that everyone may contribute in some way.
Our governor declared March 10, 2010 as Georgia Library Day. In keeping with that sentiment, the American Library Association remembers some words spoken by one of this country's most famous authors: "[The library] is the pure expression of democracy...It is open to everybody and it's all free. No other country in the world has anything like our library system...If you get down about the state of American culture, just remember there are still more public libraries in this country than there are McDonalds." - David McCullough
Officer Roster
| President | Marilyn Pierce (706-379-6672) |
| Vice-President | Doris Tilley (706-379-1306) |
| Co-Recording Secretary | Maureen Gustafson (706-379-2637) |
| Co-Recording Secretary | Christine Thompson (706-379-2330) |
| Corr. Secretary | Maureen Gustafson (706-379-2637) |
| Co-Treasurer | Jane Manuszak (706-379-3538) |
| Co-Treasurer | Jan Roberts (706-994-0958) |
| Book Bunch | Barbara Hale (706-379-3296) |
| Membership | Jan Roberts (706-994-0958) |
| Newsletter | Linda Dye (803-230-2571) |
| Publicity | Janice Cochran (706-379-3419) |
| Scrapbook | Shirley Heide (706-379-3861) |
Request from Jan Roberts, Membership Chairman
As we start the new year, I am sending a plea for you to check your membership status. Look at the address label on this Newsletter. The bottom line is a date. That is the date your membership in Friends of the Libraries of Towns County expires.
The By-Laws of the FOLTC states: "The purposes of the organization shall include but shall not be limited to fostering interests of the libraries and furthering their service to the community." This includes financial support, particularly in these lean times. State funding has been cut to the bare bones. In the past years FOLTC has purchased 85 percent of all books, audio books and other materials for the Towns County Libraries. We have only two means of funding -- our book sales and membership dues.
So check your membership date, and if that date is past, please, please renew. For your convenience, a renewal form is at the bottom of the newsletter. Thanks so very much, Jan
Doris Tilly, Vice President's Thoughts on the Butterfly Garden
Spring soon will be here and we will be working on the Butterfly Garden ASAP. At the moment things look very sad with the horrible weedy grass taking over, the rosemary looking very dead and lots of plants needing to be trimmed. You know the garden will look great after a month or so and library patrons and the butterflies will enjoy it. When the weather warms up we will have a workday (or two) and I will be calling the usual good workers. If you would like to help, please e-mail me: wdtilly@windstream.net. Many thanks.
Notes from Book Bunch from Barbara Hale
Book Bunch has decided to change their third Wednesday meeting time to 1:00 P.M. instead of noon. Those who wish to bring lunch may still do so, but any who prefer to eat elsewhere will have a little more time. During the summer months the time always has to be changed to avoid conflict with the Summer Reading Program children's activities. If the meeting time all year is changed to an hour later, the summer problem vanishes.
The March selection is The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein with Maureen Gustafson as discussion leader. The February Book Bunchers braved leftover snow to be present. Hopefully that will not be a problem in March. See you on St. Patrick's Day, March 17.
Gigi Smith will lead the April 21 discussion of Campfire Boys by Phillip Lee Williams.
Our April Book Sale is just around the corner! Members only night is April 22 from 5-7 p. m., followed by our regular sale the 23rd and 24th. We are sorting and marking books already and have room for more donations at any time, up to and including sale days. We feature the best books in our April sale but welcome any and all books excluding encyclopedias and please, no magazines. We also welcome any help our members would like to offer and join in the fun we all have in participating.
Thoughts from Donna Howell, the Director
After fifteen years of story times, summer reading programs, and special programs at schools, festivals, and day care centers throughout Fannin, Towns and Union Counties, Linda Foster is retiring from the Mountain Regional Library System at the end of March. Miss Linda has entertained and inspired a whole generation of children in our mountain counties - in fact, the first group of children she had in the summer reading program in 1995 are now bringing their children to library programs. Besides being a teller of tales, a spinner of stories, and clever creator of games, Miss Linda is a talented artist. You may remember some of her beautiful bulletin boards and great craft projects she created for all those who visited the library to enjoy. Children, and now adults, in the three counties still stop her in the grocery store with calls of "hey Miss Linda!" That is what has kept her going all these years! But now, it is time for Miss Linda to enjoy some well-deserved time to chase other dreams and relax a little bit. To celebrate her retirement - and all the good memories she will leave us with - the Mountain Regional Library in Young Harris will host a reception in her honor on Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m. Please join us for refreshments and reminiscences as we celebrate Miss Linda.