“We are the Bookmark”: Jefferson City Friends

Continue to Promote New Library

Patrons, supporters, and Friends of the Jefferson City Library were saddened to read the headline, “Book May be Closed on Library” in the December 24-25 edition of the Jefferson County Standard Banner. Those who did not throw the newspaper into their fireplaces in frustration went on to read that “Jefferson City Council may be closing the book on including a new library in their city center plans.”

Though initially this decision by City Council seemed to be a major setback, the Friends of the Jefferson City Library are undaunted in their quest for a new library building. This volunteer organization has been petitioning City Council for a new building for the city library since at least 2001, at which time results from a community survey demonstrated a clear need for a larger library facility. At their Quarterly Board Meeting on January 15, 2008, the Friends of the Library reaffirmed their commitment to building a new library for Jefferson City. Recognizing that significant progress had already been made by the inclusion of a tract of land for the library as part of the generous gift of land from Jay Moser for the City Center, the Friends Board decided to press on. “In 2001, when the community survey was done, all we knew was that we needed a new location,” says President-elect David Goff. “We had no idea where we would find an appropriate site. Now that problem has been resolved. We have the land, and what location could be better than being included as part of the new City Center? Now we just need to build the building.” With that purpose in mind, the Friends of the Jefferson City Public Library have formed a Building Committee which will be coordinating community support for a new library building. The Friends already have a designated Building Fund, and the majority of the funds raised from the annual book sale and other fundraisers in recent years have gone to strengthen that account. The Friends, through their Building Committee, will now step up their fund-raising activities to include the pursuit of larger gifts from individuals and corporate sponsors.

Last year the Jefferson City Public Library had almost 27,000 visitors and circulated over 51,000 items. With over 8000 adult patrons and over 4000 children, the library had a total of 12, 360 library card holders as of December 2007. Considering the fact that the library is less than one-third the size it should be based on Tennessee State guidelines, and that the parking available is limited and at times difficult or even hazardous, these statistics show that our library staff is doing a tremendous job with very limited resources.

Is the book closed on a new Jefferson City Public Library? Perhaps for the moment, but as any avid reader knows, you should always mark your place when you must temporarily put your book down. That way, you can easily pick up the story where you left off. “We are the bookmark,” says Goff. “The Friends of the Jefferson City Library are here and will help City Council to pick up this book where they left off and finish it. We are excited by the prospect of working with our City Council to fulfill the dream of a new city library—a dream that is held by so many of the citizens of Jefferson City.”