Us
Print
E-mail
Rate
Friends launch library’s golden birthday
 |
| James Montgomery addresses the Friends of the Library on Thursday evening to help launch a yearlong celebration for the library’s 50th birthday. JEFF M. HARDISON/Lake City Reporter |
Yearlong celebration started with Friends of Library gathering.
By JEFF M. HARDISON
jhardison@lakecityreporter.com
Friends of the Columbia County Public Library kicked off a year of festivities Thursday evening at the Lake City Woman’s Club.
James Montgomery was the keynote speaker during an evening filled with refreshments and door prizes. Micky Morpher entertained with his piano music.
The Woman’s Club itself was the starting place for the library in 1922, where it began in the basement. Woman’s Club members built the very first library in Columbia County 17 years earlier, in 1905, downtown across from the park, Montgomery said.
In 1959, when the city was celebrating its 100th anniversary, Columbia County joined the Suwannee River Regional Library System.
The first librarian was Nellie Brown, Montgomery said. She was followed by Eileen Brunner from 1975 to 1992. After Brunner came librarians Mary Browder, Faye Roberts and then, in 2005, Deborah Paulson, he said.
The employee who has worked at the local library the longest, he added, is Mary Williams, who began in 1980 and is still there today.
In 1978, the city built another library with land donated by the city and money from the Jimmy Carter Administration. The following year, Montgomery said, Columbia County withdrew from the regional system.
Fort White had its first library in 1988 on U.S. Highway 27 and in 1993 the old jail in Fort White was renovated to become the library.
In 1991, there was more room built onto the current library. In June of 2004, the West Branch Library came to be, Montgomery said.
“This is one terrific library,” he said. “It ranks as one of the top in the state. There’s always a crowd there. It reminds me of the Ole Times Country Buffet, because there’s always a crowd there.”
People who want to help the library can join the friends for as little as $5 as an individual member or $10 for a family. For more information about the library, call (386) 758-2101.
James Montgomery was the keynote speaker during an evening filled with refreshments and door prizes. Micky Morpher entertained with his piano music.
The Woman’s Club itself was the starting place for the library in 1922, where it began in the basement. Woman’s Club members built the very first library in Columbia County 17 years earlier, in 1905, downtown across from the park, Montgomery said.
In 1959, when the city was celebrating its 100th anniversary, Columbia County joined the Suwannee River Regional Library System.
The first librarian was Nellie Brown, Montgomery said. She was followed by Eileen Brunner from 1975 to 1992. After Brunner came librarians Mary Browder, Faye Roberts and then, in 2005, Deborah Paulson, he said.
The employee who has worked at the local library the longest, he added, is Mary Williams, who began in 1980 and is still there today.
In 1978, the city built another library with land donated by the city and money from the Jimmy Carter Administration. The following year, Montgomery said, Columbia County withdrew from the regional system.
Fort White had its first library in 1988 on U.S. Highway 27 and in 1993 the old jail in Fort White was renovated to become the library.
In 1991, there was more room built onto the current library. In June of 2004, the West Branch Library came to be, Montgomery said.
“This is one terrific library,” he said. “It ranks as one of the top in the state. There’s always a crowd there. It reminds me of the Ole Times Country Buffet, because there’s always a crowd there.”
People who want to help the library can join the friends for as little as $5 as an individual member or $10 for a family. For more information about the library, call (386) 758-2101.
 |
||
| TIP funds to boost learning program |
