BC Public Library Hours
Monday to Thursday
9am to 9pm
Friday to Saturday
9am to 5:30pm
Sunday 1pm to 5:30pm

Blount County Friends of the Library
508 N. Cusick Street
Maryville, TN
Phone: (865) 982-0981
Fax: (865) 977-1142
e-Mail friends@hotmail.com

 

Activism

Financial Support

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.

 

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.

Young Adult Photography and Creative Writing Workshop - Children between the ages of 10 and 14 years of age participated in an FOL funded summer program which resulted in a printed volume of their efforts.

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.

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 cars 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.

Books for Children's 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

Ex Libris Outreach Program

Ex Libris is a Friends outreach program which affords people no longer able to get to the library the opportunity of being in touch with the joys of the library offers to all members of the community. Twice monthly, Ex Libris representatives visit the facilities and present 30 to 60 minute programs to residents. Programs consist of facts relating to a particular day in history, a holiday or a season. Stories (whether short stories, magazine or newspaper articles) are read .Everything from poetry (quite serious) to poetry (quite ridiculous), anecdotes, jokes, and general bits of information on a variety of topics are presented. Reminiscences of times past, favorite books or stories, movies, music and hobbies are shared. Since inception in 2004, 121 programs have taken place with 881 people attending.

Volunteer Information

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

 

Originally founded in 1994, the Group meets once a month and continues to be a dynamic forum. The Friends "seed money" was instrumental in the establishment of the long running association.

Information and Schedule

The Books for Soldiers program provides books and other items for our military personnel serving throughout the world. During the past year, ten dedicated volunteers packed and shipped 213 boxes containing approximately 3,509 books and other audio/visual materials. Read more!

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.

 

We're proud to be a part of the Knoxville Oak Ridge Regional Network
Member of the Blount County Chamber Of Commerce
Listed on theBlountWeb