We often think of Franklin’s town square as the gazebo area on Main Street. Yet, another hub of activity in our community is the Macon County Public Library on Siler Farm Road, where people come together to learn and share information. The library benefits from an active auxiliary group: Friends of the Macon County Public Library.
Operating continuously for more than 50 years, Friends develop and maintain citizen interest and participation in the growth and development of the library. Residents and visitors are privileged to have a vital public library in the community where they have free access to excellent library facilities, engaging programs, current materials, and an impressive array of useful services.
I was introduced to Friends of the Library through the used bookstore they run at 115 Highlands Road. The bookstore carries a wide range of used books, magazines, records, puzzles, games, and other items all that have been donated by Macon County residents and seasonal visitors. I was so impressed with the store and the friendly, knowledgeable people who run it, that I applied to join the all-volunteer staff. Nearly 60 volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to operate the bookstore. They sort donations, clean books, and assure that DVDs play and puzzles are complete, price and shelve books, and provide customer service. Prices are a fraction of the original cost, starting at just 25 cents in order to make books available to anyone.
Friends began their fundraising efforts through yearly book sales, membership dues, and private donations before establishing their first used bookstore in the Westgate Plaza in the 1990s. When the Macon County Public Library moved to its current location at 149 Siler Farm Road, Friends raised more than $1 million to furnish and equip it. In recognition of their efforts, Friends of Macon County Library received the Franklin Chamber of Commerce’s Organization of the Year award in 2022.
Friends continues to provide financial resources for the library that fund a wide variety of public programs for children, teens, and adults, including summer reading activities and reading clubs, preschool and toddler story times, year-round programs about animals, crafts, music, nature, poetry, theater and writing. In addition, there are screenings of family friendly films, new releases, foreign films, and classics as well as concerts, community jams, hobby and craft workshops, cultural heritage, and literary programs.
The library also uses donations from Friends to buy books, books on CD, electronic books, DVDs, magazines, and newspapers. As an example, when you become a Life Member of Friends of the Library, one new book per year in your favorite genre is added to the library’s collection for 10 years. In addition, a portion of your $250 membership goes into the library’s endowment fund, which is managed by the North Carolina Community Foundation. Each year, the endowment provides Franklin’s public library with a portion of the income from investments.
Friends contribute more than money to support the library. They work to increase the visibility and use of the library as a vital part of the community, promoting the library and its community events through the bookstore, Friends’ newsletter, and social media. Like other Friends’ groups, they provide support to secure state money for public libraries, contact local elected officials to secure local funding, and work with civic and community groups.
Grants, which are another monetary source for a public library, often require matching money from local organizations. Friends helps in this way, too. A recent example is the mobile kitchen cart that is used to teach nutritional literacy and demonstrate ways people can save money by using local ingredients to cook meals at home. Friends gave $2,500 in matching money for this grant as well as donating money to buy kitchen equipment and a portable dishwasher.
Matching grants also help keep the library’s technology up to date. When today’s job seekers are required to apply for positions electronically and as telehealth appointments become more routine, the public library provides a vital service for residents who lack computer equipment or Internet access. When Hurricane Helene interrupted cellular and home internet services, the library was a technology hub helping people connect with loved ones and apply for recovery resources. More than 7,700 logins were recorded during the three days immediately after the storm. That was more than the total number of logins for the entire month of October. One man remarked that he was able to charge his hearing aids at the library when his home was without power.
Everyone is invited to become a member of Friends, which is a nonprofit organization, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) and operated in the same way as other Friends’ groups across the country. Membership information is available from any board member: President Max West, Vice President Sharon Sellers, Treasurer Beth Hensley, Secretary Bobbie Contino, Programs Chair Henrietta Haithcock, Membership Chair Rachel Bishop, Publicity/Folio Chairman Becky Peeling, Hospitality Chairman Frances Seay, Bookstore Committee Representative Sally Dyar; Historian Emily Deal, and Directors Elaine Bradley, Diane Cotton, Mike Decker, Melissa Leatherman, Elaine McCollum, and Barbara McLellan. Call the bookstore at (828)349-6256.