FRIENDS FOOTNOTES
Spring/Summer 2024 Friends of the Hall County Library System
Hall County Library System’s Lydia Hahne wins Georgia’s Library Staff Member of the Year
Lydia Hahne, business manager at Hall County Library System, has been awarded Georgia Public Library Employee of the Year for her years of service and ensuring the library can serve its community by managing budgets, mentoring fellow staff, and taking on challenges beyond what is expected.
“It is rare to meet an individual who has devoted their entire working life to one organization. It is rarer to get the opportunity to work with someone who has demonstrated such devotion along with leadership, commitment, a passion for service, and an exceptional work ethic,” said Lisa MacKinney, library director of Hall County Library System.
Hahne began working for the library as a shelver when she was 15 years old in 1979. During her 44 years at the library, she has held several positions including administrative assistant, circulation assistant, and bookkeeper, and she currently serves as the library system’s business manager. Lydia was honored at the State Capitol for her work. The Friends and Library Board held a reception for Lydia’s award and retirement ceremony.
Friends
of
the Hall County Library 2024 Used Book
Sale raised over $4,900
Thank you to all of the Friends members who volunteered! We also thank the community for their donations of gently used books and coming out to shop! 100% of the sales go towards the children’s summer reading program. What happens to all the books that didn’t sell? They go to an online book seller who shares the profits with us. A huge thank you to Jackson EMC and Beta Club of Flowery Branch High School for sending volunteers to help prepare for the book sale.
Dark and Stormy Night Ghost Storytelling October 18th Tickets go on sale week before Labor Day
President's Message
It was a very busy April and we had the best book sale in years. We took in $4900 and had many books left over to send to Thrift Books. In fact, there were 4 full pallets added to the pallets waiting out back. We are expecting a pick up May 15 and there are high hopes that we will see increased revenue in the next few months. My heartfelt thanks go out to all who helped with the sale and we will be discussing "lessons learned" in our August meeting We are still putting new arrivals out in the sale room and thanks to Joyce and Virginia, it is doing very well
That brings us to the August meeting We are planning on having an evening meeting with hors d'oeuvres and it will be more of a social meeting We will have a short business meeting (lessons learned) and we are hoping for a larger attendance of people who can not make weekday meetings I hope all our Friends can attend on August 13 Official time and other details will be going out via email to the Friends group so please make sure we have an up to date email address Please let us know if we can be more helpful and if you can be more active even if it is a periodic effort.
We have a new email for getting in touch, jwise@hallcountylibrary.org so feel free to reach out and say hi!
Jim Wise
President of the Friends of the Hall County Library System
Summer Reading Program 2024 Kicks off!
The library system’s largest program, the summer reading program, is kicking off in late May and runs through the end of July The theme this year is “Adventures at your Library!” Patrons can either log their reading time on the Beanstack App to be entered in for raffle prizes Patrons can also attend the many programs planned for kids, teens, and adult this summer The summer reading program is for all ages and there is no required reading list Kids this summer will enjoy a Kick Off Storytime from Pigeon (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus books), Lee Bryan That Puppet Guy, the Great Jeffini Magician, Science for Everyone, Snakes Alive with the State DNR and much more!
Adults will enjoy programs such as how to make the viral internet sensations, Butter Candles, Puppy Pals Cafes and Cat Cafes, Belly Dancing Classes, How to be a storm chaser, Senior Bingo, and of course our wonderful book clubs.
The Friends of the Hall County Library System give annually $5,000 to the youth summer reading program and $1,400 to the adult summer reading program. The Friends are committed to make sure all of Hall County reads this summer and engages in fun learning activities. Studies show many children and teens experience the summer slide and learning loss due to not reading or being in a reading household in the summer time.
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Having Trouble Reading this?
Hall County Library Service wants to provide services to all; including homebound patrons and patrons with reading disabilities. This also includes library services to those who need books in braille and large print. Also audio books for patrons with reading disorders or who have visual impairments Homebound? Having surgery? Patrons can sign up for Books by Mail and have their books mailed to them. So if you or someone you know needs access to the library, here are some resources.
Georgia Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled provides Talking Books (audio books), items in braille and large print items for free to be mailed to patrons.
Just go to their website gls.georgialibraries.org and a librarian at HCLS can sign the form. We also have forms available at all library branches.
Books By Mail
Hall County offers a Books by Mail Service. This is for patrons who are homebound and/or temporally homebound. After filling out the form and signing up for the program you let librarians know which books or what kind of books you would like in your Books by Mail Packages. Your items are mailed to you free of charge. When you are done, place the books back in the return bag to send back free of charge. We will then send your next round of books. Want to sign up? Call the Murrayville branch at 770-532-3311 ext. 171
Cannot find that book you want in the library?
Try Thriftbooks!
Thrift Books is the largest online retailor of gently used books. Find thousands of titles that can be shipped to your home. The best part! Books are provided by Friends of the Library organization across the US! The Friends of Hall Co Library System send books not sold in the library sale or in our small shop to Thriftbooks. We then get a split of the profit of what sells. So your purchase helps libraries across the country.
Use your library card to check out a pass for up to 4 people to the Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta!
Meeting Dates for 2024
Gainesville Meeting Room
August 13th evening 5:30
November 12th 3PM
Friends Board 2024
Jim Wise--President
Ruth Bruner-Vice President
Janet Ordway-Treasurer
Jane Hollingsworth-Secretary
Rachel Buckley, youth services assistant at Spout Springs Library, graduated this May 2024 with her Masters in Library and Information Sciences Rachel was a 2024 Friends of the Library Scholarship recipient.
Friends Sale Room
We are looking for some Friends to help sort book donations and tidy up the Friends Sale Room at the Gainesville Branch, the Spout Springs Library, and other branches! email ajunius@hallcountylibrary org if interested
2024 Legislative Update
The Friends of the Hall County Library worked very hard this legislative session to advocate for state funding for public libraries, funding for maintenance and repair grants, library technology grants and to voice concerns for the several bills that would have affected libraries including a bill which have done away with licensing for librarians and allowed anyone to be a library director It would have also forbidden the Friends from giving our normal travel and conference grants The billed stalled in committee Funding for libraries stayed strong this year on the state side
Our membership/renewal form is located on the back of the newsletter. If your name is not listed, we have not recorded your renewal for 2024. If you feel we have omitted your name in error, or if we have misspelled your name, please call Adrianne Junius at 770-532-3311 ext. 126. All membership renewals are based on the calendar year and due in January.
https://hclsfriends.square.site To renew or join online: Or fill out the membership form
127 Main Street NW
Gainesville, Georgia 30501
(770) 532-3311
Join Friends of the Hall County Library System and enjoy your membership through the year 2024. With your help, we can expand our library activities and services throughout Hall County.
Individual $25 Family $50 Patron $100 Sponsor $150 Lifetime $500
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