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The monthly business meetings of the Friends of the Library are held the first Wednesday of each month in the Halle Room of the Collierville Burch Library. Plan to spend about one hour. You are welcome to attend.
501 Poplar View Parkway · Collierville,TN. 38017 · 457-2600
| President | Peggy Turnipseed |
| Vice President | Sandy Rech |
| Secretary | Diane Cook |
| Treasurer | Debra Krajewski |
History of the Collierville Friends
The Collierville Library was founded by The Contemporary Club in 1956. The first building was a former hamburger restaurant on North Rowlett just west of Walnut Street. Members of the club and their husbands cleaned the building inside and out, painting and building shelving. They collected books, and opened for business 2 or 3 days a week, with limited hours.
Collierville Gets First Library
From the book "Collierville, Tennessee Her People and Neighbors", by Clarene Pinkston Russell, published ca 1990, we find this paragraph: "The most outstanding project ever undertaken by the Contemporary Club was the establishment of the Collierville Library. Through their many efforts this goal was accomplished under the administration of Mrs. C. H. Harrell. On March 5, 1956 the door of the Collierville Library was opened to the public.
Those who served on the committee were Mrs. J. Karr Hinton, Mrs. O. C. Dean, and Mrs. M. K. Mann, Sr. The library has continued as one of the Club's main projects. After the Friends of the Library was established, the Contemporary Club has been 100% in membership participation. Mrs. James Cowan, a Contemporary Club member, served as librarian for seventeen years before retiring in 1973. The club won first place in the State Community Improvement Contest sponsored by the Shell Oil Company for this project."
Picture from "Images of America"-COLLIERVILLE" pub 2007 by ArcadiaLibrary Gets Larger Building
After several years, the Collierville Library moved into a larger building and joined the Memphis-Shelby County Library and Information System. Club member Mrs. James Cowan (Sue) was the first librarian - a position she held for about 25 years. When she retired, librarians came from the Memphis-Shelby County System to fill the position.
Friends Begins
During the early 1970s a Friends of the Library was formed to support the Collierville Library. Early leadership was provided by Louise Ward, Mary Mueller, and Norma Hutton who served as treasurer for many years. Members included Elizabeth Kelsey, Virginia Carrington, Grace Ward Jamison, Anne Babin, Thelma Dean, Eleanor Gibbons, Kate Pinckney, Juanita Fant and others.Alice "Dukie" Hollis served as president for several years.
At the Contemporary Club meeting, March 27, 1996, "Mrs. W. C. Hutton announced the Friends of the Collierville Library meeting for April 2 at 7 p.m. The evening meeting time will enable more members to attend the interesting meetings. Mr. Leftkowitz, husband of Friends president, Rochelle Leftkowitz, will present the program for April, showing magic tricks. All are welcome."
Contemporary Club
Traditionally through the years, all members of The Contemporary Club are members of the Friends of the Collierville Library and the Library continued to be the Club's primary service project. Thelma Dean served a term on the Board of Directors of the Memphis-Shelby County Library and Information System when Lamar Wallis was the head librarian. Janette Vaught was elected president of the Friends of the Memphis-Shelby County Libraries in about 2000.
Book Sales Begin
Book Sales were held in the Library on Walnut Street in conjunction with the 20th Century Club's "Fair on the Square" on the first weekend in May each year.
In 1997, the Club paid $180.00 to the Friends - Memphis Shelby County Library System for 38 members. At that time, the 'big Friends' received $3 of the $5 dues per person, with the local Friends keeping $2.00. (source - Cathy Shepherd, Contemporary Club Treasurer 2006-08)
Recollections of Former President
Former President Janette Vaught shares these recollections. "The Collierville Library Association was in operation until the "Friends of Shelby County Libraries" was formed in February, 1964. Thelma Dean was chairman of the Collierville Library Association and therefore may have been the first president of the Collierville Friends--but I am not positive.She is listed as president of CLA on the Dec 5, 1965 program for dedication of the library and community room and city hall.The representatives from Collierville to the Friends of Shelby County Libraries meetingin September 1964 were Mrs. Howard Jamison and Mrs. Don Magnuson.Perhaps Grace Ward can shed some light on those early days.
Collierville Friends Membership 1975
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First Book Sales
"I did not become active in Friends until around 1977 or 78. I remember Louise Ward and Thelma Dean and Kate Pinckney being officers but I am not sure which office. Juanita Fant was active for several years. recall a couple of book sales we had in the old community room and Juanita had organized them. At one of them a somewhat bawdy book had been donated (all the books had been donated in Collierville) and it was promptly trashed--as soon as all of us had checked its contents!"
Here are some photos of an early sale in 2001.
Norma Hutton, longtime treasurer, worked all the sales, usually by herself,
using the cashbox seen in this photo.
The In-Between Years
"A couple of years before we built the new library there was a meeting of seven or eight Friends in the community room. Interest had waned. I think the last president had been a lady from Germantown named Rochelle who had tried different days, hours, nights, etc. and had not been successful at getting an increased interest/attendance. As we had some money in the bank ($700?) it was suggested that Norma Hutton and I (as I had been our representative to the Memphis/SC Friends) act as an executive committee to keep the organization afloat. I believe Norma was already treasurer. And she and I made some decisions about contributions for programs/supplies at the old library until we had the new building and more participation."
"I had become our Memphis/Shelby County representative because Mary Mueller had convinced me to do it. She had been our representative but didn't have the time anymore. I think that was in the mid 80's.
New Library in Halle Park
Mrs. Lucius E. Burch, Jr. donated $500,000.00 for the New Library, for 'naming privileges'. The Collierville Library was named Lucius E. and Elsie C. Burch Jr. Library. We were still part of the Memphis-Shelby County Library and Information System at that time. Citizens soon realized that we needed more more collections, more staff and more hours. Library Manager Cris Mitchell was a supporter of the Friends, enlisting our aid in petitioning the larger system to keep Collierville's Library open more hours.
The Friends helped collect signatures on petitions to the MSCLIS to accomplish these goals. Janette remembers: "I think the petitions for increasing the hours (at the new Library) were done in fall of 2002."
"Norma and I therefore took onthe Southern Living House program in the Summer of 2001 just prior to the Friends' explosion in growth after Betty Sue became president." - end of Janette's 'recollections'.
Southern Living Idea House
The Southern Living Idea House in the new Magnolia Square subdivision off South Rowlett was a successful fund-raiser for the Friends of the Collierville Library. Friends members, Contemporary Club members, Collierville Woman's Club members and others served as hostesses for the show house for a period of several weeks. Our duties were to welcome guests, sell tickets, and be sure everyone learned all about the house and its furnishings. Almost $25,000 was raised for the Friends of the Collierville Library in this project.
Election of Officers
The Minutes for February 5, 2003 include this information: "Since Janette (Vaught) is currently serving as president of the 'big Friends' (of the Memphis-Shelby County System), she asked to be relieved of the Collierville office. After discussion, Betty C. Only volunteered to serve as president. The need for a secretary and recorded minutes for the organization was filled by volunteer Anne Babin. Norma will continue as Treasurer. Hazel Wedaman, Hermione Swindoll, Ann Dunn and the Library Staff will plan programs for every other meeting, alternating with 'business' meetings."
When the Collierville Library separated from the Memphis-Shelby County System, the Friends became an even more vital support group for the Lucius E. and Elsie C. Burch Jr. Library of Collierville.
Profit from the 2003 sale was $1543.20
Membership in the Friends of the Collierville Burch Library is now $10.00 per year. There are about 150 members on role. All proceeds are used for the benefit of the Library, furnishing supplies, materials and staff needs.
Profits from the most recent Used Book Sales were $3400.00 for the mini-sale in January and $6909.00 for the March sale.
Book Store Project
The latest Project is to open a Book Store which will open off the Lobby of the Library. A door will be cut into the present Conference Room. The Town of Collierville supports the idea as a regular source of income for the library, and is currently checking on construction expenses. The Friends will contribute toward those expenses, and volunteers will staff the Book Store when it becomes a reality.