Jane Bowen was there when the Oglethorpe County Library building first opened its doors on June 25, 1995, and was back last Wednesday, when it celebrated its 30th anniversary in its current location.
In a short, heartfelt speech, Bowen, a former library board member, recounted the beginnings of the library from a tiny, makeshift collection in a small building across from the courthouse, to the completion of this building.
“Ted Hughes was on the library board and, Lord, that man came out here every day and he drove those architects crazy,” she joked about the former chairman of the building committee. “But he wanted to make sure that this library was perfect, and he came and he did. So we were thankful.”
“How did you get the money for it?” someone asked Bowen from the crowd.
“Oh, we’d beg, steal,” she said matter-of-factly.
Current and retired members of the library community gathered to celebrate the growth and longevity of the building that they put their time, effort and faith into with a party that featured cake and plenty of memories.
Construction on the library first began in May of 1994 and cost $760,714, with 82% of those funds coming from the state.
The library has served as a hub for Oglethorpe County, as well as smaller groups that use its community space for regular meetings. Branch manager Nicole Hensley said she’s noticed an uptick in people requesting use of the space for hobby clubs, such as Lego, knitting and reading.
While a point of optimism for the library’s future, the increase in patronage highlights the need for a bigger parking lot, which has been a goal since the building’s completion. The need for a parking lot was apparent in a recent reptile presentation that brought in 144 people.
“People were parked everywhere,” Hensley said. “We’d love to see the parking lot expand, but also just to continue to bring community partners in, to bring more people in, and different people that want to learn about different things.”
Funding for the library comes from state and federal grants, as well as local fundraising efforts, such as the Friends of the Library volunteer group.
Babs DeArmond has been with the Friends for seven years and said the group raises money for events like Lunch and Learns and flower arranging classes. This year, the Friends raised money to help pay for the library’s summer community events and reading program, which gave every child two free books.
Like Hensley, DeArmond appreciated the recent increase in patronage, but still hopes to reach more members of the community.
“The library is continually reaching out to the community and serving everyone in the community, not just two dozen people who like to read mystery books,” DeArmond said. “It’s a way to bring the members of the community together, and it’s a resource.”