The
Blount County Friends of the Library are a group of over 1,000
members who share a common interest int eh welfare of the
library and whose purpose is to promote and sustain public
awareness of the importance of a superb library to a vibrant
and growing community. The FOL has been instrumental in focusing
attention on our library and its use and importance to the
people of Blount County.
WHAT
DOES THE FOL DO?
The members of FOL work
within several areas to benefit the BCPL, including:
1. Quarterly book sales
to raise money to back needs not covered by the library's
operating budget. Our book sales events are recognized as
one of the best organized in the country. The next book sales
will be January 17th, 18th and 19th, 2008.
2. Outreach programs:
Books
to shut-ins
Books
to soldiers
Books
to Everett Center
Books
to correctional facility residents
Books
to nursing home/assisted living centers
3. Book club at Morning View Transitional
Care Center
4. Supporting some financial
needs for the Book Mar Cafe
5. Financial support
to other programs including summer reading programs, young
adults programs, cash prizes for contests and equipment and
supplies
LIBRARY
GROWTH/ORIGIN OF THE FOL
In 1974
a group predating our present FOL was formed in support of the
relocation the the original A.K. Harper Memorial Library, built
in 1931, that had outgrown its facility. The Blount County Friends
of the Library (FOL) was organized in the 1970's to create interest
in and support for the building and relocation to the McGhee
Street Library. The FOL group then became a support group for
the library staff. In 1981 the (now) Blount County Library moved
to its newly constructed McGhee Street location. At that time
it was anticipated that the library would take 30 years (until
2011) to outgrow its facility. But the rapid growth of Blount
County seriously impacted library usage and in 1999, just 18
years after the McGhee Street location, the county acquired
the old Sky City property and began construction of today's
grand facility.
Our
local FOL group belongs to the national Friends of Libraries
U.S.A., State and local Friends and similar support groups.
The tremendous volume of work and support offered to libraries
is impressive, especially in Tennessee, as our state ranks low
in governmental financial support for libraries. It appears
that without our FOL group, none of us would enjoy the extensive,
well-equipped library we currently have.
WHAT
DOES IT COST TO JOIN?
Individual
$12.00 less than $.04 a day!
Family $17.00 less than $.07 a day!
WHAT
ARE THE BENEFITS?
1. Tangible support
to your library
2. Early entry to
book sales
3. Special seating
at selected programs
4. A chance to participate
in a community effort with like-minded people
5. A force in keeping
the BCPL a vibrant, growing place with exhibits, works of
art, music, and expanded collections and services.
WHY DOES THE LIBRARY
RELY ON THE FRIENDS GROUP?
Simply put, because county and state funding
are less than adequate to provide for the type of service and
facility required by the residents of Blount County. The FOL
works to provide needed funds to pick up the shortfall between
library needs and governmental funding.
LIBRARY STATISTICS 2007:
Card Holders 75,690
Library Visits: 416,691
Persons attending programs 18,476
People attending programs at the library = 18,476
L library material checked out = 688,888
People using the library's electronic resources = 286,984
Per capita expenditure for library support = $ 15.86
According to American
Library Association Statistics:
The national average total per capita local
operating income for public libraries for 2001-2002 was $24.49.
Tennessee’s average total per capita spending was $7.78. Tennessee’s
operating expenditures per capita place us 48th out of 51 within
the United States (50 states plus District of Columbia).
the Knoxville Oak Ridge Regional Network