New leadership to lead Friends of the Library

The newly elected board of the Friends of the Black Mountain Library fairly sizzled with ideas and enthusiasm at its May meeting as it elected officers and organized committees.

Serving in leadership positions are Pam King, president; Gywn Ridenhour, vice president; Sherrie Cronin, secretary; and Lori Turley, treasurer. Other board members include Henry Griffin, Sally Schoen, Matt Settlemyer and Sharon Stenner. Head librarian Melisa Pressley serves as a permanent member of the board.

Community members are invited to join the Friends of the Library by completing a membership form available at the front desk at the library, 105 N. Dougherty St. in downtown Black Mountain.  Annual dues of $15 are used to expand programming and materials available.  Members will enjoy a quarterly e-newsletter to keep them informed of all library happenings.

People interested in becoming involved with the Friends of the Library and working to enhance the town's library should contact King at pckvero@bellsouth.net. The board wants to raise more money to supplement the library’s budget, expand programming and create new ways for the community to engage with the library, King said. Several volunteers will be needed to get the job done, she said, adding that she hopes to hear from people interested in helping.

Community members are also encouraged to follow the Friends of the Black Mountain Library on Facebook to keep informed of upcoming events.

In other Friends of the Black Mountian Library news, a 2,300 grant from the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina will allow the organization to install diaper changing stations in two of the library’s restrooms.

“We look forward to completing this project,” Pressley said. “We enjoy having young children here, but currently the mothers have to change babies on the floor.” The board expects to order and install the stations in three months.

The recent annual book sale was a big success, board chair Lori Turley said. Turley thanked everyone who volunteered and donated bought books and gave a special shout out to Boy Scout Troop 42 of Black Mountain which helped set the books up and box and move the remaining books after the sale. A donation made by the Friends to the Boy Scouts to thank them will be used for their summer excursion to study marine life in Florida.

The public is reminded that the Friends sponsor an ongoing book sale in the library that features current and popular titles at reasonable prices.