Friends of the Library selected for State Award

Friends of the Library will be recognized at the Tennessee Library Association (TLA) Conference in Memphis next month for its collaborative efforts to benefit our library and community. Friends of Tennessee Libraries and TLA have named the local organization as 2022 Friend of the Year. "We were truly surprised and honored to learn that we had been selected for this award," stated Friends of the Library president Kelly Medford. "I'm looking forward to sharing how our group has been working with the local organizations to advocate for our amazing library."

In 2022, Friends of the Library coordinated with the Chamber of Commerce and the Lewis County Historical Society to move from the limited space available in the library into the former freight room of the Lewis County Welcome Center Depot for used book sales. The "Booktique" is now the location for monthly book sales to benefit the library and has also hosted a Summer Reading Program event. Friends will be working with the historical society to assist with the traveling exhibit of The Maps of Lewis and Clark arriving at the end of this month. With the support of the City of Hohenwald, Friends of the Library provided cocoa for visitors waiting to board the Christmas in Hohenwald train during the busy holiday celebration. "We work with many local organizations to create and be part of programs and events that serve our community and advocate for our library," stated Medford.

Friends of the Lewis County Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable group of volunteers formed to support the library through fund-raising activities, advocacy, volunteerism, public awareness campaigns, and literacy programs. Upcoming fundraisers include the St. Patty's Dance on Saturday, March 18th at LCHS featuring the 21-member big band Music City Swing with ticket sales to benefit the library expansion project. On May 5th and 6th the annual Hohenwald Springfest Craft Festival will be held at Memorial Park with craft vendors, live music, food trucks, and a new Storytellers Contest. More information about these and other events is available at lewislibraryfriends.com, or visit the Lewis County Public Library and Archives.