Best of Friends Summer 2005 Published by the T H E B E S T O F Friends of the Knox County Public Library, 500 W. Church Ave., Knoxville, TN 37902 865.215.8775 FAX 865.8772 FR I E N D S Officers Knoxville, Tennessee Summer 2005 Maggie Carini President Look Who’s Talking Pego Dempster Past President At Annual Meeting Ginna Mashburn On July 19 Secretary Clyde Letsinger Jack Neely Treasurer of MetroPulse fame Larry J. Frank Library Director knows some secrets Directors about Knox County Charles Benziger Caroline Buckner libraries. Jack Neely Jerry Burdette See page 3. Gordon Clem Jean Idell Experts Find Much Bonnie Naugher Dave Patterson To Value Kelley Segars At Appraisal Elizabeth Shirley Mary Starke James Dotson’s John Thomas Elnora Williams Bessie Harvey sculpture was among Chief Library Liaison Mary Pom Claiborne the treasures brought
FOTL Liaison to the library Suzanne Freeman for evaluation
Coordinator on April 16. Rachel Craig See page 5. Newsletter Martha Gill How Sweet It Is! We’re on the Web— The 2005 book sale see us at
What Has Made John Thomas Smile? ■ $47,900 from the sale of books ■ $8,000 from the sale of CD’s ■ for an all-high total of $55,900 ■ because of the support of scores of Friends and Knoxville agencies
You’re never too young to start your own book collection as this young customer indicates. John Thomas Customers Flock to Best-Ever Book Sale By John Thomas volunteers. Jean Idell did her usual fine job Book Sale Director of lining up almost 100 members to do the set 2 The 2005 Friends of the Library Used up and work the sale. Elizabeth Shirley Book Sale was the best ever. We made over brought order out of the chaos of the $47,900.00 plus another $8,000.00 from the children’s section--an almost a impossible sale of the lawsuit CD’s for a grand total of task--and Jim and Flo Ullrich seemed to be $55,900.00. Our expenses were minimal-- there all the time, working hard. Also Jim printing, postage and the cost of moving oversaw the moving of the tables to and from the tables to and from the Candy Factory the Candy Factory and returning the boxes to and returning the boxes to the library. the library. Becky and John This success was made possible by Charles and Joyce Benziger took care of Ragsdale looked over a several factors. We had more books than the refreshments for the members-only potential purchase. we have ever had before--over 1825 boxes. opening. And, of course, the nearly 100 We received excellent publicity--better than volunteers gave their time and energy that we have ever garnered before. There was made the sale the best ever. the article in Sunday’s News Sentinel; there Now for the 2006 sale. We already have was a good news segment on WBIR’s Alive boxed 269 boxes of books which is more than at Five; and there was a live broadcast from we had for the 2005 sale at this time. The the Candy Factory on the Saturday morn- problem is going to be finding space since it ing of the Bag Sale. is fairly definite that we are going to lose the We had good support from the Community Room at the Candy Factory. community. The Public Building Authority Our minimum space requirements are and Lisa Williams once again were very around 5000 square feet, and we could cooperative. They moved the books to the probably use double that. In the past we Paris and Tess Woodhull Candy Factory, arranged for us to have the have used about 70 eight-foot tables and we baked cupcakes and sold Community Room and in a number of could probably have used double that them to benefit the other ways were helpful. Timm Jenkins of number. The Community Room in the Friends at the book sale. Richard's Design donated the revisions of Candy Factory is approximately 4000 square the graphics he designed for the 2004 sale. feet plus the foyer and the two rooms off it. Echota Beverage donated the bottled water. We’re asking all Friends to be on the The success of the sale would not have lookout for available space as centrally been possible without the work of a lot of located as possible with ample parking. Best of Friends Summer 2005
‘Rogues, Scoundrels, Gunslingers, and Librarians: FOTL Meets What Books and Libraries Did for Boom-Town Knoxville’ In Crossville Friday, May 13, was a lucky July 19 Meeting To Spotlight Hardison, Neely day for Friends of Tennessee A filmmaker who appreciates Knox The television ads feature children’s Libraries as FOTL held its County libraries will be honored, and a story time, homebound services, business annual meeting at Fairfield historian who knows some secrets about the reference and collections, and special Glade in Crossville. Presi- dent Connie Albrecht role of libraries in K- programs. The campaign was made introduced a series of Town will speak at the possible through the generous donation of time and services by Mr. Hardison and speakers on Friends’ Friends’ annual his crew. challenges and successes. meeting on Tuesday The Friends paid for film and other TLA President Vivian Wynn evening, July 19, at the materials used in the project. read letters from Lady East Tennessee History Mr. Hardison, who worked in the Jackson and Governor Center. library’s Sights and Sounds Department Bredesen thanking Maryann Phil Hardison, Jack Neely in the late 1980’s, now produces profes- Bork and Frances Darnell, the creative force sional television commercials for compa- past presidents of FOTL, for behind a series of television ads touting the nies like Baptist Hospital and Goody’s. FOTL’s Catch ‘em in the library’s resources, will be honored; and Jack The four ads being telecast on Comcast Cradle workshops which Neely, associate editor of MetroPulse , will stations will be screened at the meeting. helped many counties launch speak about what books and libraries did for A brief business session at which the Imagination Library. Dr. Boom-Town Knoxville. Friends will elect officers will follow the Ed Gleaves, retiring state The event will begin at 7:00 with coffee commercials. librarian and archivist, and desserts by Mag-Pies. Then Mr. Neely will examine introduced his successor, Phil Hardison and his crew are respon- “Rogues, Scoundrels, Gunslingers, and Jeanne Sugg. sible for four television spots about the Librarians” in Knoxville’s past. He is the Representatives of Friends’ Friends and the outstanding materials and author of Secret History: Stories about groups shared ideas for services available in the library system. Knoxville and other non-fiction works. drawing adults to libraries: 3 performances by world-class Freeman Travels To Capitol Hill for Libraries classical guitarists, lunch- hour concerts attracting By Suzanne Freeman senators’ staffs. We stressed our support downtown workers, computer Advocacy Chair of the President’s proposed budget for classes taught by volunteers, Friends of Tennessee Libraries LSTA (Library Services and Technology ongoing art exhibits, and As advocacy chair of Friends of Tennes- Act), $221.3 million for 2006, and thanked crafts classes. see Libraries (FOTL), I was part of a delega- our representatives for supporting Suggestions for recruiting tion of 12 that asked Congress on May 3-4 to legislation favorable to public libraries. and retaining members continue and even upgrade its support of Along with our school librarians, we included bringing educators libraries. asked that Congress fund the Improving into active roles, creating Our group included Secretary of State Literacy through School Libraries at $100 business memberships, Riley Darnell, Jeanne Sugg, the new state million instead of the capped $19.6 million enrolling parents at the kick- librarian and archivist, several librarians, and (part of the No Child Left Behind Act). off for summer reading, some citizens from different regions of the The American Library Association showing the public what state representing their library systems. has a group in Washington working to Friends are doing, publishing American Library Association (ALA) keep us informed on issues affecting our “want ads” for volunteers, staff briefed us on the issues, and we met libraries. You can access its web site and providing tangible benefits with representatives. We had sessions with find answers to many of your concerns at like coffee mugs, offering all nine legislators or their staff and both < http://www.ala.org/washoff>. Friends intangible benefits like the opportunity to reach An energized Friends group needs to go out to adults in nursing electronic to speed up the delivery of SEND US YOUR homes, and even using pretty ■ late-breaking news about how Friends, the hand-addressed envelopes E-MAIL ADDRESS library, and the community co-exist; adorned with pretty stamps. ■ news about opportunities for Friendly Lunch was good, but keynote enterprises; speaker Maggie Vaughn, ■ the newsletter. Tennessee’s poet laureate, was even better. Best of Friends Summer 2005
Fair Seeks Recruits Friends acquainted inter- Citizens’ Input Needed on Appointments ested newcomers with opportunities for volunteers To Library System’s Advisory Board on February 10 at the East By Maggie Carini vote of the entire Commission. Citizen Tennessee History Center. President input at the public meeting overwhelm- Elnora Williams, Fair In response to a number of issues ingly sought these improvements to the coordinator Allison Murray, regarding current and future governance of process: and Mary Pom Claiborne the Knox County Library, the Friends ■ Qualifications that emphasize (left) welcomed Grier recently moderated a public meeting long-standing use of and interest in the Novinger (standing) and sponsored by County Mayor Mike Ragsdale. library Lauren Bray to the Fair. Friends’ members acted as facilitators and scribes in several break-out sessions. Attend- ■ A nomination process that invites ees presented thoughtful views supporting public input both sides of who should govern the library, an advisory board (currently in place) or a ■ The establishment of term limits board of trustees. On one theme, however, virtually New three-year board appointments everyone agreed—the need for review and commence July 1. Four terms expire this change in the method of selecting board year in Districts 1, 2, 5, and 8. The Friends members. There are nine advisory board are actively researching potential candi- members, one appointment from within each dates, and all members are invited to of the nine districts of the county. Nomina- contact all County Commissioners (Ph: 215- New Directors Named tions are made by the two County Commis- 2534) in support of the proposed changes to Three new directors sioners from each district and approved by a the appointment process. have joined Elnora Williams, whose appointment to the County District Board Member Commissioners 4 Friends’ board was an- nounced in the winter issue 1 Blanche Moore Thomas Strickland of Best of Friends. Diane Jordan Dave Patterson from Fountain City is retired as 2 Steve Roberts David Collins head of the University of Billy Tindell Tennessee School of Planning. 3 Connie Hughes Ivan Harmon Bonny Naugher, long- Wanda Moody time supporter of the library system and former co-chair 4 Lucie Polk John Schmid (with Julie Webb) of One Phil Guthe Book, One Community, lives in Sequoyah Hills. 5 Millicent McBride John Griess Kelley Segars, senior Mike Hammond transportation planner at the Craig Leuthold Knoxvillle Regional Trans- portation Planning Organiza- 6 Jonnie Conner Mark Cawood tion, lives in the Fourth and Larry Stephens Gill neighborhood. 7 Cheryl Bartley Scott Moore Mary Lou Horner Elnora Williams, 8 Kathy Greene Mike McMillan principal of John Mills Sunnyview Primary 9 Victoria Defreese Larry Clark School, lives in Paul Pinkston Powell. Best of Friends Summer 2005 Appraisal Unearths Treasure Rene Jordan, manager of the library’s tech services, brought in a Samauri sword that his father-in-law took as a souvenir from World War II. Kit Smallman displayed an andiron that was almost as tall as she was. Randy and Debbie Toney found a crazy quilt in mom’s cedar chest. Daniel Brown produced from jewelry from his family. Appraisers evaluated these and many more items at the Friends’ second annual Antique Appraisal Fair at Lawson McGhee Library on April 16. Intense curiosity and amaze- ment were orders of the day as appraisers scrutinized items Liz Kohl (above) consults ranging from rings retrieved from KUB sewer sludge to John Coker, appraiser, cherished legacies. about her 1832 teapot. Becky Jolly’s grandmother’s china, a beautiful blue and white Scandinavian service for 12 including cups and saucers for both coffee and tea, drew admiring exclamations. Liz Kohl solved the mystery of the origin of a silver teapot with the help of John Coker, appraiser. The ornately engraved 1832 piece came from the silver works of James and Josiah Williams of Exeter, England. Using Lawson McGhee’s resources, David Gaby and his Friends Secretary Ginna daughter researched the origin of a brass clock with the help Mashburn (right) shows of Catherine Moirai, reference librarian. The proximity of Catherine Moirai her artistic reference materials and the eagerness of librarians to assist in treasure, which was etched Tracy Kirk and her father searches for information made Lawson McGhee the perfect and painted on stone. She David Gaby brought in a venue for the fair. found it at a flea market in 5 clock that led them to Participants, spectators, and Friends who were on hand Bejing. research in the library. to welcome and to help agreed that a third annual appraisal is in order. June 4 Marks Kickoff of Children’s Reading Festival
By Mary Pom Claiborne Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Mainstage Performers Communications Administrator Tennessee Valley Fair, UT Gardens, East At Reading Festival Knox County Public Library Tennessee History Center, Beck Cultural ■ Chetter Galloway, From the Cat in the Hat to Harry Potter, Exchange Center, the Spanish Language storyteller summers are for reading! Knox County Tent, and the Friends. ■ Jim Moore (of Jim and Public Library was pleased to present the The festival was sponsored by Books a the Animal Band), Children’s Festival of Reading on June 4 Million, the Knoxville News Sentinel, WBIR, songwriter from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m in the World ‘s Comcast, B97.5, and the City of Knoxville. ■ Michael Messing, Fair Park. The festival celebrated the For more information on the Children’s magician Festival of Reading, call 865.215.8767 or e- Summer Library Club, which provides ■ Sean McCullough, mail
Your Gifts If you are a member of Gifts Honor Those Who Love Libraries; the Friends, you have In Memory or in Honor of Donor already given us a great Evelyn Ford Judy Cornet & Richard Parrott gift—that of your support. You may have also given us the much-appreciated Margie Warren Howard Sandra Chandler and much-needed gift of Health Care Plus your time—as a volun- Timothy & Jamie Hensley teer, perhaps at the Used Benjamin & Rebecca Howard Book Sale, the Antique Appraisal, or in the Carol Krauss Outreach program—and City of Knoxville we are grateful. Samuel & Linda Taylor L. Fern & James Blackburn There are other ways you can give to the Friends of Harry Wade, Jr. the Library. For example, Betsy & Bruce Foster tell your friends about the Peter Denton Friends and encourage Palmer & Cay Holdings them to join, too. You can benefit the reading Knox County Public Library community by donating a Systems Staff Association book in memory of a Sam, Martha, Leslie & Scott Marshall loved one or in honor of a Joanna Montgomery loved one’s special occasion, like graduation. Clifford Rodgers 6 And don’t forget about Gail Kelley the Friends when you are Patricia Watson cleaning out your bookshelf—we can put your used books to great Mary Wood Prugh Larry & Judy, Shayne & Ann McCallie use and make our annual Robert & Carol Schmid sale an even better Jillian Reese community service and R. J. & Rose Lynn Coker fund-raising project. When doing your estate Natalie Morgan planning, you may also Frank Addicks want to consider an Molly & Herb Wakefield endowment to the Harry T. Burn Friends through the East Tennessee Foundation. Margaret Goodman What a great way to Howard Johnston benefit the future book Rhys G. Claiborne lovers in your community! Mr.& Mrs. John Neely III Just call the Friends’ office for details. Susan & Gene Murray Gerry B. & Lori Willmer Rose John & Ann Rose J.V. & Blanche Giesler Daryl & Wendy Foster Ethel & Carl Campbell Mr. & Mrs. Carl Redmon Bud & Carole Fields, Jr. Fred & Susan Brackney (Cont. next page) Best of Friends Summer 2005 Friendly Gifts These Gifts Keep on Giving In what tangible ways In Memory or in Honor of Donor do gifts to and from Friends support the Knox County Mary Wood Prugh Henry Geiger Public Library? Dallas Howard Rachel Craig, Friends coordinator, provides the Victor and Joan Ashe Donna & Gerald Nicely following examples. Among recent pur- chases made for the library William S. Lyon, Jr. Donna Asbury system is a Yamaha digital Judy Young piano for the Sights and Heather Jones Sounds Department. According to Nelda Hill, Joan & Campbell Wallace manager of that depart- John & Linda McConnell ment, the piano has been Leisa J. Whitehead used in almost every music June & Myron Pfeifer program at Lawson McGhee since its arrival. Helen S. Blair Local musician Donald Mr. and Ms. Harvey Mahlman Brown first played it at the Priscilla Watts opening of the “United We Mary Sue Seaton Stand” exhibit at the East Tennessee History Center. Elizabeth Jamison Both Mr. Brown and Carol Helen Robinson Zinavage, principal keyboardist of the Knoxville Symphomy Orchestra, 7 Imagination Library: A Gift have “pronounced it a good instrument.” Frames, mats, and To the Young and Community glass for photos in the Learning to read starts in the crib, and James Agee exhibit at the communities that value literacy and lifelong East Tennessee History learning fare better in all indicators of quality Center will see use long of life: crime, abuse, and dropout rates are after the display is taken lower; economic status is higher. down June 15. Steve Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Cotham, McClung collec- which provides a book a month to every child tion manager, foresees that enrolled in the program from birth to the fifth the framing supplies will be birthday, holds out this promise to our used for photo displays “for community, according to Bonny Naugher, a years to come.” member of the Friends’ board. The Friends also made Over 23,000 children in Knox County are a $2,500 down payment on eligible to register to receive books. Since the the cost of restoring a cost is $27 per child per year, the annual cost painting by Catherine can run $500,000 with full registration, but the Wiley. Total restoration of Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation the large and fragile provides matching funds to support the canvas is expected to run prospect of a generation of healthier, happier, $10,000. and more productive families. Friends’ funds also
Photo by Tena Litherland Friends helped to raise $13,000 toward purchased a banner for the On January 14 Governor Phil Bredesen Knox County’s goal by answering telephones exterior of Lawson announced that Dolly Parton’s gift of books and recording pledges on Hallerin Hilton McGhee. to children from birth to five years of age Hill’s recent Radiothon in support of the was coming to Knox County. Parents may Imagination Library on NewsTalk 99. register their children at branch libraries. Best of Friends Summer 2005
Friends of the Knox County Public Library Non-Profit 500 West Church Avenue Organization Knoxville, TN 37902-2505 U.S. Postage 865.215.8775 PAID Fax 215.8772 Knoxville, TN E-mail [email protected] Permit No. 964
Jazz Up Friday Nights In Lawson McGhee’s newly renovated Arts and Meeting Room, music lovers can enjoy music and food in the After 8 Hours at the Library summer series. On July 8 and 15 and August 12 and 19, music in an intimate setting will be available free of charge. Wendel Werner kicked off the summer series on JOIN THE June 3 to an appreciative audience. Bruce Bogartz’s contribution to the evening will be hors d’oeuvres. For details, telephone 215.8729. Friends! Life is so much sweeter if a friend is there to lend a hand or provide encouragement when the Carpe Librum going gets tough. Those who befriend the Knox County Public Library provide that support. To Discount Harry Potter Past Friendly accomplishments include supporting the Summer Reading Program, spearheading Carpe Librum, Knoxville’s new One Book, One Community, bringing a noted author to the podium, and purchasing shelves for locally owned bookstore at the new East Tennessee History Center. 5113A Kingston Pike, will offer a 10 percent discount on Harry Join other Friends today. Fill out the application below and send it with your check made out to Potter and the Half-Blood Friends of the Knox County Public Library, 500 W. Church Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. Prince, which goes on sale in mid-July. According to owners Name Flossie McNabb and Martha Address Arnett, a portion of the sales will City, State, Zip then go to Friends of the Knox E-mail address Telephone County Public Library. Tele- phone the shop at 588.8080 to Folio $500+ Mary Utopia Rothrock $250-$499 reserve your copy today. Be Calvin McClung $100-$249 May Lawson McGhee $50-$99 sure to identify yourself as a First Edition (Family) $25-$49 Bookworm (Individual) $15-$24 Friend. Library Lover (Senior 65+) $10-$15