It has been a while since our April newsletter and there is lots of ‘Friends’ news, so take time and read all of the happenings and plans.

NEW SATURDAY HOURS: 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TEN THINGS!

FIRST: Our August meeting will be a departure from your normal third week bi-monthly schedule. As you know, parking is almost non-existent during little league sports season. For that reason, we are going to have a day time meeting at 11:30 a.m. on August 22. It will be a brown bag lunch with dessert and soft drinks provided by our group. There are several decisions to be made concerning our new grant money, the September book sale, and our fall ‘supper’ fundraiser. We hope that ‘Friends’ who normally do not get out for evening meetings will be able to attend a daytime meeting. For those of you that have to work, please send us comments and suggestions after you have read about everything that is going. Each ‘Friend’ is most valuable and we want to hear from you.

SECOND: Speaking of our new grant money. There is $1500 to be spent soon. We asked for a grant of $10,000 to be used to make our library circulation system, some of our online programs, and other related items available to you from your home computer. We have to think much smaller since there is only $1500. We have to wisely stretch those as far as we possibly can for part of that project.

THIRD: As you know, our ‘Friends’ provide Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest.com to library users. This year the State of Tennessee via TEL (Tennessee Electronic Library) will offer HeritageQuest on their site. This means instead of the $1800 cost for two subscriptions, we will be spending $1390 on Ancestry.com. Never fear though, Norma and Valerie have been looking at other sites that may appeal to our patrons. One such site (Sanborn Fire Maps) offers maps of historical value. For instance, there are maps of the Lake City area from the 1940’s that shows businesses, schools, and detailed street maps. One idea is to download (for a fee) maps that relate to this region or other areas that our patrons would be interested in. The maps would be written to a CD that would be available at the library as part of the reference section for research. You’ll be able to see a demo at the Friends meeting.

FOURTH: If you have accessed the website www.orgsites.com/tn/lakecitypubliclibrary lately, you already know what a fun time Summer Reading was for a group of young readers. There was storytelling by Dianne Hackworth, a visit from Channel 10’s Todd Howell, the TVA&I Fair mascot (Jasper), plus lots of games and reading. Participants earned dollars to go shopping at the Pluto Outlet Mall. It is always interesting to see what they buy. Of course, there was a pizza party on the last day. Such fun for everyone! Thanks again to Lake McCoy and her volunteers and Norma and the library staff for a job well done.

FIFTH: Our September book sale is just around the corner. We are looking at the last weekend in September: Friday evening for ‘Friends’, Saturday morning for everyone. There are many, many books to be sold both paperback and hardback. There have been several donations for the sale. One added attraction this year will be Books on Cassette. As you know, books are now being recorded on CD’s, so the cassette stock is becoming out of date. Most of the library’s stock of books on cassette tape will be ‘weeded’ (a library term for pulling out of date material) and be sold for 50 cent or $1. If you have a favorite book and a working cassette player, here is your chance to get a really good deal. They will all be available at the ‘Friends’ Friday sale, so be sure your membership is up-to-date and come buy your favorite books.

SIXTH: At our August 22 meeting, we need to begin planning for our November fundraiser. Last year, we competed with Anderson County High School sports play off and attendance was off by 40%. Do we need to move beyond a Chili Supper to something else or do we just like to cook chili and serve it? Our cake walks have been a fun event. What are your suggestions?

SEVENTH: Beginners Computer Classes are still available at the library. You can have individual instructions if needed. So ask at circulation desk for dates and times.

EIGHTH: After a summer vacation, the Friends Book Discussion Group will begin again on September 29 at 10 a.m. Brenda Duncan is leading the group.

NINTH: A huge thanks to everyone who signed the library petition for better wages for library employees. Thanks, too, for talking to your county representative. The Anderson County Commission voted to fund an employee compensation plan that included library workers. Our library staff is happy to be included!

TENTH: New Saturday library hours went into effect in August 2. Most every Saturday during sports season, there is a parking problem when sport event attendees compete with library patrons for parking. The 9 to 2 hours will allow library users to be in and out of the library before the crowds arrive. The staff can spend all of their time on library business instead of serving as afternoon traffic directors.

SEE YOU AT THE MEETING ON AUGUST 22 11:30 at the library. Bring a friend if you wish.

Friends of the Lake City Library April 2008 Newsletter

It is already April and things are continuing to move at a busy pace at the library. As of March 31, VITA volunteers (6) have prepared and filed over 410 tax returns and there are two more weeks before the tax deadline. Appointments are fully booked through April 15. Since the service is free, what a significant savings to taxpayers!

That is only one happening!

Our April meeting will be held at the Cracker Barrel on April 15 at 6:15 p.m. We are celebrating National Library Week, National Library Workers Day, and Equal Pay for Library Workers Day by taking our library staff out to dinner to thank them for a job well done. How they keep up that busy pace five days a week, fifty-two weeks a year is a wonder! There are few quiet times at the library. So come meet with us on April 15 and share a meal. Entrees begin at $6.99.

Summer reading plans are underway. Lake McCoy is leading the program again this year. The theme is Starship Adventures. Dates are June 6th. – July 18th. Lake and Norma have attended the annual Summer Reading Workshop in preparation for the big event. Tell all of your friends. The program is open to all children ages 4-13. There will be special guests and exciting events in addition to all of the fun reading!

Our display case has reminders of National Library Week. The library theme is baskets of knowledge, community, and education. We are highlighting library activities and resources. In addition, there are three handmade baskets from Pennsylvania to be auctioned to the highest bidder. Check out the case and make your bid. The basket on the right of the case won first prize in a basket weaving contest. It is the first basket that was created by our contributor, Kristin Hill.

Big thanks to all who prepared breakfast foods for the Chamber of Commerce brunch. Thanks also to Dianne Cole who sets a pretty table for us, every time. There was breakfast casserole, biscuits and sausage, bagels, muffins, fruits and juice, and a number of other goodies to share. Makes one’s mouth water, just to think about it! Yum! There were 25 or more guests. We were able to talk about the library and all the services that are offered.

The Arts class at Anderson County High is getting ready to paint the mural in the children’s section. You will see class members at different times in the library. Be sure to check that section out and thank the members for their participation. What a contribution!

The Community Work Skills Training class from ACHS is in the second year of working at the library once a week to learn about the library and help with shelving chores and other tasks that need to be done. It is a good mix – Lake City Library and teens who are learning the system.

Friends of Tennessee Libraries are meeting on May 2 at the Nashville Public Library for its annual meeting. Registration is $25 for members, $40 for non-members (of which $15 will be membership fees for the year). Are you interested in attending? Check in at the library for more details. Reservations must be made by April 14.

The Anderson County Library Board is working to acquire funding for salary upgrades for the Anderson County Library Directors and their staff. This is a huge undertaking. A survey has verified that library workers in Anderson County are certainly underpaid when compared to other county workers and library staff from surrounding counties. Even then, 14 of the 20 staff will be receiving an increase in salary as mandated by the federal govt because as of July 1, their pay will be less than minimum wage.

The board is petitioned each funding entity to consider salary increases. There are two important meetings to be aware of and to attend if possible: 1) Anderson County Budget Committee meeting at the courthouse on April 15 at 4:15 p.m. There is 15 minutes allocated to plead the cause. A show of interested library patrons would certainly be welcome. 2) The library part of the budget will hopefully be on the agenda at the Lake City Council meeting in April at 7 p.m. It would be so very good if 15 or 20 people filled that meeting room. In this F/Y (07-08) budget, Lake City contributes $17,665 to the library operation, while Anderson County contributes $53,705. Please attend that meeting, if possible. Your library staff is depending on you.

Reminders:

Coffee on the Patio Mondays and Tuesday morning. Come take a break, have a cup of coffee and enjoy spring!

The Book Discussion group meets the last Monday of each month at 10 a.m. Brenda Duncan is hostess. That means that there is good conversation about books and, of course, Brenda never leaves home without a dessert. Come and participate. Talk about the good books you are reading (or listening to).

Coming soon to the shelves: New children's recorded book packages (book and CD), complete collection of the "ROOTS" series, more genealogy additions, books on CD's for your listening pleasure, and best sellers from McNaughton (our book lease vendor). SEE YOU AT THE LIBRARY

Earlier events and newsletters

$200 in memorials have been received, $100 each in memory of Sgt. David Connell and $100 in memory of Gene Guyton. Memorials are an excellent way to remember someone who has made a difference in your life.

The Friends have funded the registration fee for three of our own to attend a genealogy work shop in Sevierville. They will bring back lots of information about genealogy and 'THE SEARCH' to share with us. Maybe a workshop?

The Advanced Art class at Anderson County High School has agreed to paint a mural on two walls in the children's section. We expect that they will start as soon as all of the illness is over. The walls have been washed in preparation. They have an idea of what we would like to see. Of course, the plans will be approved by the library director.

AND!!!!!!!!!!!!!We are already working on the Summer Reading Program. Check out the new 'apparel' some of the staff are wearing (a Tee with a Mouse on it) provided by the Friends. We are looking forward to summer and summer reading.

Friends of the Library ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2007

We will take partial credit for the success of the VITA (tax preparation) from January thru April. We are already talking up the service beginning in January 2008. Could we do 300 tax preparations next year?

Celebrated National Library Week with refreshments during ‘Open House’ at the library. Made new friends, including a couple from Great Britain who were on their way to Middlesboro, KY. Signed up some children to the Imagination Library.

Treated the staff to dinner at the Cracker Barrel in appreciation for their hard work.

Receive $1000 grant from Bank of America for children’s activities.

Added books to the genealogy section. Stephanie Hill has researched family history on request from people who have read about this service on our Website.

Began our book delivery to seniors who can’t always get to the library. A success story in the making. We’re delivering books every two weeks.

Stepping stones that lead from the library patio to the memorial.

Successful Summer Reading Program. Of course, Lake and Company did an excellent job.

CPR classes taught by Sondra Chumley.

Brenda Duncan is leading a book discussion group. The group meets the last Monday of each month at 10 a.m. at the library. Ongoing computer classes taught by Vallerie Valentine. We’ll take partial credit for this for as much as Vallerie is a library assistant, she is also a valued ‘Friend’. She is responsible for most of the Friends mailings, pamphlets, and announcements. When there is a mass mailing, Brenda Duncan get the articles ready to be mailed, by folding, stamping and addressing. Thanks Brenda.

Huge September book sale. Over $1000 has been raised at $1, 50cents and a quarter at a time. A large endeavor with great results. Thanks to all of the Friends who helped set up. It was extended to the parking lot this year.

Chili supper attendance was down this year. We had the competition of Anderson County High School in the playoffs. The cake walks were fun. We netted over $300.

Participation in the Christmas parade was such fun. The parade moved so slowly that we could interact with the parade attendees. Giving away 120 coupons for children’s books led to a lot of conversation along the way. (The books were left from the September book sale. A good way to get the children to visit the library.) Thanks to Chip Hill for providing the transportation, Dianne Cole who decorated the tree, Miz Marjorie for her part as Mrs. Santa (she was a big hit), the big yellow dog who was the talk of the kids, and all of the rest who walked or rode in the parade. Thanks to Darrell Perry for recording our activities in pictures. We really are making the library more visible when we participate in community activities.

Our Christmas meeting was Dec 10. We had refreshments, carol singing, reviewed our accomplishments, talked about goals for 2008. Bob Gregory, Chairperson of the Anderson County Library Board attended and spoke to the group about the workings of the Library Board and the value of ‘Friends’. There were 27 in attendance. Two goal possibilities for next year were: A greater interaction with the elementary school and the Boys and Girls Club of North Anderson County, 2) a mural to be painted on the walls in the children’s section. A ongoing project: download e-books to an MP3 player and lend to a ‘Friend’. Norma and Vallerie will work on the purchase of one player to begin with and if demand increases, we’ll purchase a couple more. The library staff will actually download the book, so the MP3 player will be loaded and ready at the circulation desk. E-books are available for two weeks at a time.

We are still looking for two or three cassette players to be used by seniors that want to listen to books on cassette.

September Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 28 & 29, 2007

Our Friends of the Library Book Sale is on these days and kicks off the busy fall season for the Friends of the Library.

Friday September 28, 5pm-7pm will be the ‘Friends’ Preview Sale. This day is open only to Friends of the Lake City Library. (Of course, several volunteers will be at the library at 3 p.m. to begin to set up the book sale. Friends always have a fun time, setting up, sorting, and pricing all of the items.) No book will be over $1. So there is a very good chance that you will get the bargain of your life at the sale!

The next day sale will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday 29th and run through 2 p.m. Everyone is invited. Weather permitting; we hope that we can have several tables of books in the parking lot so we can attract more shoppers. Again no book is over $1. Paperbacks range from 10 cent to 50 cents. We are expecting a huge crowd so come early!

October is the Friend’s Membership Drive. We will be glad to accept your membership dues now for the next year. Single $10; Family $15, Senior $5; and benefactor contributions are bronze - $25, silver - $35, gold - $50; and of course contributions are always welcomed. We have had several donations of $100 or more this year and we have put those dollars to good use.

Our annual software subscription to ProQuest for our Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest.com is due this month. That amount is $1800. It is money very well spent. There is always someone at one of the computers accessing those data bases. We have applied for a grant for remote access to those sites. If we receive the grant, use of that software will increase tremendously. We hope that the membership drive and the book sale will ‘replenish’ our fund amount and offset most of the cost.

Don’t know how to use the genealogy section? Sign up for the next class now! The Genealogy Class will be on Saturday November 10th at 10am-12noon at the Library. Circle this date on your calendar. The sign up list is at the Library desk so get your name on it now. Trace your ancestors and find new family connections.

And …more good news! Every Thursday at 1:30pm-2:30pm Vallerie Valentine will be offering Computer Sessions. She will teach anyone interested in acquiring basic computer skills from using the mouse, setting up email, up to using all those pesky “drop down screens” that confound most of us.

Our book delivery to seniors is increasing. We are taking more and more books which not only increases our circulation numbers but brings much joy to the shut ins. The seniors are excited about all the books they can choose! If you know of a senior that can’t make it to the library, contact Norma Day (865-426-6762), and we’ll get the books out to them.

Mark Friday, November 2nd on your calendar with a huge big star! That date is our annual Chili Supper and Annual White Elephant Sale. There will be all types of chili from mild to hot- hot-hot, so if you are a chili connoisseur you will not want to miss this event. And, start collecting your white elephant items now. The tables will be there ready for your items to be displayed.

Tuesday mornings are now cool but still lovely on the patio for Coffee with Friends. So stop by and chat about your latest book. And speaking of books, due to popular request we are now organizing our Book Discussion Group! Brenda Duncan will be leading this group sharing snip-its and tidbits about the book of the month Are you reading this now or no time to read it but want to hear about it? Then join this group on Tues. Oct, 2nd. at 1:30 for their first get together at the library. Call or stop by the library to sign up and let us know what you’re interested in reading. Hope to see you there!!

Finally, we have new items arriving soon to the library. First to arrive will be two new public access computers (for a total of eight). This will increase computer time for all and especially for genealogy researchers. New genealogy books continuously are added to the shelves. Best of all, MP3 players will be available for “Friends” to use. If you haven’t checked out the R.E.A.D.S. (Regional E-book & Audio book Download System) at http://reads.lib.overdrive.com which is a web site provided by the TN State Library and Archives and has digital books which may be downloaded for FREE, then stop by and let us know what your interested in listening to and we will download this for you and you may check it out for 2 weeks. Lastly, cassette players for the senior shut-in group will become part of the weekly deliveries. If you happen to have an extra walkman or small cassette player sitting around and you would like to donate it to the library for our senior shut-in- group it would be greatly appreciated. We need about 6.

By now your calendar must be full but save a few more dates for the Christmas Parade and time just to come by the Library to check out books to read at home on these rainy fall evenings.

May 2007 Newsletter

A table for 20 at the Cracker Barrel was the site for our celebration of National Library Workers Day and “Lake City Library Day” as declared by V.E. (Buck) Wilson, Mayor of Lake City. We sat on the front porch until seating was available and ‘visited’. One man walking by commented “It looks like a family reunion”. We are a kind of family: A family who cares about our community and reflects that care by supporting our library and its great staff. Judy Greeson, Clinch Powell Regional Librarian was in attendance. OF course, the food was delicious. Taking the staff out to dinner was a small gesture of thanks in comparison for all of the good work that Norma and company do for us day in and day out.

OTHER HAPPENINGS: Bernice Hollen and Hazel Guyton served punch and cookies to several attendees at the Open House. There was not a huge crowd but we enjoyed the ‘meet and greet’ time. Two notables for the day: 1) A couple from England vacationing in the area and on their way to visit Middlesboro, KY (its namesake is in England, they reminded us) and a mother bringing her children to check out books and videos. We talked with the mother about the Imagination Library and gave her information so she could log on to the site when she returned home and sign the children up for a book a month until they are five years old. I have visions of the young boy getting his first book via the US Mail and the wonder on his face when he opens that book for the first time. What a great effort for the children of Tennessee!

Our staffer, Vallerie Valentine just might get her name ‘up in lights’ because of her work with the VITA tax program. Over 180 people took advantage of the free service at the library this year almost doubling the number of taxes prepared last year – 105. If those same people went to a tax preparer and paid $50 to have a return filed (the average is $163, according to one news story.) that is a collective savings of $9,000. And if those refunds averages $500, that would mean $90,000 back to the community.

But back to Vallerie. One person came to the library intending to come in and have his taxes prepared. A physical problem made him unable to come inside to the tax preparation area. So Valerie took her tax information forms and a chair outside to the man, sat in the chair near his vehicle and collected his information. Norma thought this was a situation that should be documented and took a picture of the proceeding. In a conversation with the State VITA Representative Sherion Holmes, Norma related this story. Now the VITA organization wants to tell East Tennessee and the World how VITA volunteers and especially Vallerie go beyond their normal duties to help in tax assistance. It may even be published in an IRS Newsletter. Good job, Vallerie! Good job, Norma, for the encouragement you gave. Good job, Lake City Library for this good gift to the community!

The library will be getting two more computers with Internet connections for public use. That brings the total to eight (8). Norma is busy planning furniture arrangement and new furniture to handle the acquisitions. This is great news especially for people using the online genealogy softwares that are funded by the Friends.

Memorials: Our Friends group has lost four ‘Friends’ this year: Vaughn Miller, James Kite, Lorene Hill and Gene Guyton. They were avid readers and supporters of the library. The library has a memorial fund in place if you would wish to contribute to the purchase of books and/or other library needs in their honor. The library address is P.O. Box 157, Lake City 37769 or drop them by the library the next time you are there.

Powell Clinch Utility has funded 12 magazine subscriptions for three years. You will notice the special magazine display and cover at the front of the library.

New genealogy books (65) have been added to our collection. They are back from the bindery and are on the shelves. Some small publications were bound together since some of the books are of short length. Binding the books to hardback is an excellent way to lengthen the life of the limited editions.

COMING NEXT

The Patio has received a facelift and new furniture to become an out-door gathering spot. Two mornings a week, on Mondays and Tuesdays, fresh brewed coffee will be served for those who want to gather to read magazines, newspapers, or a favorite book or two. Do you have some bulbs to share, furniture to donate, or a green thumb? We need your help.

AND ANOTHER THING (or two)

1) Norma has recommended that the 'Friends' purchase a few (3-6) cassette tape players for our books on tape. Even though books on tape are being replace by books on CD's, the library has a number of good books on tape. The thought is that patrons who would rather hear the book can check out the cassette player along with the cassettes. We could deliver a cassette ready to play to older seniors who are unable to get to the library.

1A)There is also an option to download books from the state funded website onto a small IPOD. We are discussing purchasing some of these at at cost of about $40. If a patron wanted to hear a book, it could be downloaded for a period of two weeks. Library personnel would download at a patron's request and it would be ready to pick up when the patron got to the library.

More than one "Friend" has mentioned organizing a book discussion group. Would you be interested? Let us knwo by using the email access at the bottom of this webpage.

2) We must make the community aware of the books on tape service that is available from the state. A conversation with one lady has resulted in her signing up for the service. This is a free service from the State of Tennessee. A person is issued a special cassette player and can request books/magazines and other publications. Those tapes will be sent via US mail with a return postage paid envelope. Our tax dollars are funding this project. We should spread the word to everyone whose vision will not allow them to read.

OTHERS: All this sounds like a lot of work. And it is! But if each of us choose one or two or even three projects (or as many as you want to work on) each of the suggestions above can become a reality. Think about it and volunteer!!!!!!