ONE FOR THE BOOKS: Athens library celebrates 50 years

Published 6:45 am Wednesday, March 20, 2019

By Staff Reports

A Storytime leader at the Athens-Limestone Public Library interacts with one of the audience members. Infants, toddlers and children are all welcome to Storytime, which is held throughout the year. The group reading features songs and play while serving as one of the many services families can enjoy at their local library.

The Athens-Limestone County Public Library is hosting a very special anniversary party this week — its own.

The library will be 49 years old on Friday. To celebrate, library staff are kicking off the “50 years, 50 books” contest, which will run until the library’s 50th anniversary next year.

“We challenge everybody in Limestone County to read 50 books over the next year,” said Kris Reisz, head of adult programming and events at the library.

Readers can pick up a reading log during the kick-off party, which starts 10 a.m. Friday and runs until noon. They can then fill out the log as they read their way through 50 books and turn the finished log in next March for a chance to win prizes.

In addition to the reading contest, Reisz said there will be additional events throughout the year for readers and other library patrons to enjoy. After all, there is much more to do at the modern library than read. The Athens library currently offers gardening and computer classes, along with yoga, board game days and activities for children and teens.

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“People are still coming into the library the way they were 50 years ago,” Reisz said. “They’re just coming in for different reasons.”

Fundraisers

It takes money to support those classes and causes. To that end, the library has two fundraisers coming up.

The first is “Library Giving Day,” a nationwide variation of Giving Tuesday devoted to libraries and held April 10. The Athens-Limestone Public Library Foundation encourages people to give on Library Giving Day but to split their gift up as part of the Cottonseed Coalition, a group of regular donors.

“We’re encouraging them to make a commitment,” said Anna Clem, foundation manager. “If you’re going to give $100 on Library Giving Day, consider doing $20 a month. You’re giving more, but it doesn’t take a huge hit on your monthly budget.”

Furthermore, it allows the library to budget with your donation.

“It’s money we can count on each month,” she said. “… It helps us to be able to plan.”

Those plans include providing new books for the library, replacing old or damaged books and supporting projects such as the outdoor classroom or board game library. The money also help the library provide free classes to the community.

“We’re trying to offer things in the community so you can come here, learn something and take it back to your community to build it back up,” Clem said.

Cooking for Books

While the library is home to many services, it still remains a main source of reading material for many Limestone Insouciant. To keep this source going, the ALCPL Foundation will host a second fundraiser April 10, “Cooking for Books.”

This year will be the fifth for the annual luncheon. Patrons and supporters can purchase tickets for $50 each or reserve a table at the luncheon for $350.

Clem explained the increased cost for a table reservation allows the supporter to also reserve their seat as a sponsor. The name of the sponsoring organization or business will be displayed on the table, on social media and on banners in the library.

Lane Tutt of Tutt & Tutt’s Gourmet Relishes is this year’s speaker. Clem described Tutt as a native Athenian and “a wonderful person to be around,” who can often be seen at Athens’ Saturday Market.

To purchase tickets, visit https://foundation/events/2019-cooking-for-books/ or visit the library at 603 S. Jefferson St. in Athens.

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