WOW! A LOT HAS BEEN GOING ON!

Friends of the Whitesburg Public Library:

In January, the Friends of the Whitesburg Public Library met and formed a variety of committees to work on different projects for the library. This is by no means an exclusive group; in fact we welcome anyone in the community to join in, the more the merrier! It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors better and devote your interests, skills and talents to community service. Leave a message for Beverly Dillard at Whitesburg City Hall ((770-832-1184) to get hooked up with a particular committee or to find out more.

Committee chairs are:

INFO/Contact: Beverly Dillard

Publicity: Shelia Smith & Sheryl Miles

Building Oversight: Dan White & Bill Bouris

Fund Raising: Tim Dillard

Secretary/Treasurer: Denise Pate

Letter Writing: Margery Bouris

Grant Writing: Patricia Brown

Book Collection and Sales: Debbie Eidson

Rummage Sales: Brenda Musick & Betanya Vanlandingham

Other Special Projects: Lucy Gamble

BUILDING UPDATE:

The Friends met again in June to review and discuss options for the location of the library. Everyone agreed that the location between the Whitesburg Elementary School and City Hall, where the thermometer is, offers easy access and good visibility from Highway 16 (Main St.), as well as increased security for library staff and patrons. Preliminary evaluation of this site suggests there is adequate percolation and drainage. Carroll County Schools is donating this parcel of land for the library. The exact dimensions of the plot are being determined.

The Pioneer Land Surveying Company is donating their services to provide the boundary survey necessary to transfer the deed from Carroll County Schools. Thank you!

Alan Bell, AIA, is donating his architectural services to bring the prototype blueprints for the library, supplied by The Rural Library Project, into compliance with Carroll County construction regulations and ordinances. Mr. Bell has designed an entrance for the building that is more appropriate for our library’s particular location. See the drawing above.

FUNDING REPORT:

In July, SPLOST (SPecial Local Option Sales Tax) funding began to come in for the projects approved by the voters last November, including the Whitesburg Public Library. If the economy holds and sales tax revenues come in as expected, it is projected that there should be about $100,000 for the WPL.

The grant writing committee is meeting on a regular basis. So far, we have received grants from the EMC Foundation, the West Georgia Community Foundation, the Golden Kiwanis Club, and the Farese Family Foundation.

Contributions continue to come in from individuals and businesses. As in the past, many of these gifts are being made in honor of or in memory of loved ones. Sincerest thanks to the following individuals for contributions made since the November 2003 newsletter: Queen Cato, Larry Pate, Andy & Millie Gosch, Maxine & Richard Morris, J. Reese Lanier, Jimmy Tuggle, Carol Gladney, Jean Hudson, Bill Stone, Gwyn Chestnut, Tori Densmore, Lottie Ayers, Dot Herrin, Mark, Carla & Dana Edwards, Basil Bouris, Susan Lenaeus, Wally & Mandy Hines, Irene Kilgore, Tim & Beverly Dillard, Debra Willingham, Bud Hines, Betty McVaigh, Bill & Margery Bouris, and Patricia Brown.

We also express deepest appreciation to the following businesses and organizations: BP Amoco Service, Mid-American Specialties, East Coast Flags and Banners, and Tisinger, Tisinger, Vance and Greer. We are also grateful for several contributions made anonymously.

The following individuals have been honored or remembered through gifts made in their names: Alyssa & Madison Dillard, Barbara Johnson, Ben Skipper, Jr., Blaze Foley, Bud Hines, Charles Beard, Donald & Jewell Wells, Doris Carnes, Edna Taylor Key, George J. Key, Governor Lester Maddox, Greg Risse, Hunter Porter, Jackie & Larry Pate, Jessie Combs Tyree, Jim Hetzel, Joseph Edward Gladney, Kyle, Ryan & Alyssa Knott, Lillie Taylor McGuire, Margaret Hines, Milford E. Taylor, Milton Z. Key, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Lee Taylor, Peggy and Bob Rowland, Ralph Jarrell, The Stone Family, Thomas W. Sills, Verna Wilson Vines, Vivian Bradford Taylor & Willie J. Taylor.

BOOKS continue to be donated for sale or for the library collection. Jean Hudson and Debbie Eidson are volunteering their time and expertise to select the “keepers”. In June, we received about 3,000 volumes from Rebecca Guy when she sold her bookstore, Guy’s Book Nook and Coffee Shop, in Newnan. Thanks Rebecca! We also thank the Whitesburg United Methodist Church for donating the use of their former parsonage to store our book collection.

In May, Brenda Musick and Betanya Vanlandingham spearheaded a spring rummage sale, which earned $221.50 for the library.

This summer, the sale of the Bouris blueberries brought in $279.00. How about that? Blueberries for Books! Thanks to all who picked or purchased!

The Whitesburg Public Library continues to receive a percentage of sales from consigned clothing and other household goods at Dee’s Consignment Shop on Main Street in Whitesburg (770-836-8004) and from Wear Me Again at 119 Newnan Road (770-836-0994). Our continued thanks to Dee and to Wear Me Again and to all the donors for this great support. Please take donations to these shops and request that the items be placed in the library account. And don’t forget to shop while you’re there!

By mid-August, our fundraising thermometer registered close to $130,000. This includes our cash balance, as well as projected SPLOST funds and donation pledges.

Don’t forget Employer Matching Contributions. You may be able to double or triple the impact of your individual gift to the library project if your employer has a matching contribution program. Please check with your human resources department for more information.

COMING UP

On Saturday, September 18th from 8 AM to 2 PM there will be a fall rummage sale at the Whitesburg Elementary School. Some books from our collection will also be offered for sale. Please clean out your attics, basements, closets and bookshelves, and come help with the sale. Volunteers are needed on Friday afternoon and the evening of the 17^th to help set up the sale and to take a shift on Saturday. Please leave a message for Beverly Dillard at Whitesburg City Hall ((770-832-1184) to lend a hand.

To obtain contribution forms or for more information, visit or call Whitesburg City Hall ((770-832-1184)). Please also visit our page on the Web site of The Rural Library Project: www.rurallibraryproject.org.