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Fontana Regional Library serving Jackson, Macon and Swain counties with six public libraries in Western North Carolina |
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Jackson
County 828-586-2016 Librarian: Dottie Brunette |
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©2005-10 Fontana Regional Library. All rights reserved
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Wall of Fame Recognizes Donors
In today’s economy, everyone wants to stretch their dollars to the max. What if you could actually double your money? A number of people in Jackson County are doing just that by contributing to the new Jackson County Public Library building fund at a crucial point in the campaign.
“We are drawing close to 90% of our $1.6 million goal and have an unprecedented opportunity,” said Mary Otto Selzer, co-chair of the campaign. “Through individual community members’ donations, we have matched over $185,000 of the $250,000 SECU Foundation grant. The next $65,000 raised will be matched by the Foundation. As has been true throughout the campaign, every dollar counts, but at this point, every dollar counts as two.”
No one realizes the importance of each contribution any more than Michelle Allison, office manager of JCPL. It was her awareness of the impact each dollar can now make that inspired her and other employees at the library to create the Wall of Fame.
“We were talking about how we could bring attention to the campaign here in the library and I thought of a Wall of Fame,” Allison said. “With each contribution someone makes at the library, we give the donor a certificate to post on our walls. We want to fill up all the walls with the certificates. We put a jar on the desk and when people come up, we explain that everyone who puts a contribution in gets a certificate to go on the wall. We’ve gotten donations from a few cents on up.”
According to Dottie Brunette, head librarian, the response has been gratifying. “We really mean it when we say that every dollar counts,” she said. “We’ve had small children come in and contribute their allowances to the building fund and it’s been so nice to see the pride they have when they mount their certificate on the wall. We’ve had strangers drop in to ask directions to Waynesville or Asheville, see our information about the Wall of Fame, and say, ‘Here, I’ll contribute.’ We’ve had contributions from a dollar and up and it’s obvious to us that each and every one is from the heart. We really feel so supported by the community through this campaign.”
Of course the Wall of Fame isn’t the only way to contribute. Contributions can be made in person at the Friends of the Library Used Book Store, also on Main Street in Sylva, or mailed to: Friends of the Library, P.O. Box 825, Sylva, NC 28779-0825. For more information call Mary Otto Selzer at 828-293-0074 or 828-507-0476 or email at dmselzer@aol.com.
Local Artists Chosen for Artwork in New Library Complex
The work of Western North Carolina artists will soon become a part of the new library complex. Within the new facility there are several spaces where permanent art work can be displayed. In January, a request for proposals was sent out for artwork from local artisans to embellish the three main desks within the new addition – Circulation Desk, Children’s Desk and Reference Desk.
Lynne Wilson, Interior designer of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture of Spartanburg, SC said, “After extensively reviewing the proposals, we were very impressed with the quality of all the artwork. As a result, we decided to use a portion of the work each artist submitted in various areas within the new library complex, not just the desks.” The artwork includes several types of media.
In the Children’s Area four zones will be enhanced by the artwork. Three zones will feature art designs in the form of painted tiles by students at Smoky Mountain High School, under the guidance of Gayle Woody. The children’s desk will display an alphabet design; the restroom will have framed tile designs by the students; and Cherokee Clan tiles will serve as wall art. The study room will be enriched by cake walk paintings by Doreyl Ammons Cain. Cake walks featuring homemade cakes were historically held in the Appalachian region to raise funds to benefit needy families. Cain often joins her sister, Amy Ammons Garza, in storytelling sessions, making the stories come alive by illustrating various aspects of the story.
The large Circulation Desk will feature a bas relief scene by Mark Tomczak of Old Fort. Bas relief is a sculptured artwork piece in which a modeled form is raised, or lowered, from a plane on which the main elements of the composition are highlighted. This panel will feature a scene of the courthouse and the mountains behind it, showcasing not only the beauty and quaintness of downtown Sylva, but also capturing the historical significance of the courthouse to this region.
The Reference Desk will feature stained glass and metalwork by local artist Owen Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s design is a panorama of a mountain vista, primarily using brass and copper metalwork, with Carolina blue stain glass representing the sky. His work can be seen in the silhouette family who are climbing the “steps to success” on the courthouse steps. The family will become part of a permanent sculpture at the entrance to the library complex.
The Computer Room will be enhanced by handmade red earthenware clay tiles featuring wildflowers and plants native to Jackson County. Gayle Woody, an art teacher at Smoky Mountain High School, is the artist who will be crafting these tiles. Dottie Brunette, Jackson County Librarian, says, “The dream of our new Jackson County Public Library is emerging right before our eyes. As we embrace this bright future of the library and of our historic courthouse, we are pleased to include the contributions of these creative Western North Carolina artists.”
Through the efforts of Tiz Duve, the Jackson County Public Library staff is hosting a book club every other month on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7 pm. Book club facilitators will be library staff members who will choose a book to be read and discussed. This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Main Library.
At each meeting the next title and facilitator will be announced. The public is encouraged to join our group. The library will order extra copies of the selected titles.
The Prince of Frogtown by Rick Bragg
"Bragg revisits his Alabama hometown for the third time... as he attempts to retell the story of his father, vilified as an abusive drunk in the earlier works, and gives him a more in-depth treatment in an effort to determine what made him the way he was. While by no means sympathetic, the portrayal shows readers a man who had limited choices in education, employment, relationships, and, ultimately, behavior. Described through recollections of friends and relatives who knew him when, the figure who emerges coped the only way he knew how, with exaggerated machismo, in a small town that he never left for any length of time." - School Library Journal.
Tony Romine is hosting monthly movie nights at the library. The movies will be shown on the Third Thursday of each month at 7 pm. Funding for the new digital projector for the programs was through donations from Phil Haire, Milt and Joan MacNeill, and the Friends of the Library. Free popcorn, soda pop and water are available. All programs are free of charge; we are grateful for donations. This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Main Library.
Due to Production Studio guidelines the library may not include movie titles or studio names in its advertising. Please call the library for more information.
Next Movie: Thursday, August 19 at 7 pm.
During the week, there are special programs for pre-schoolers and home-schoolers. The Library has story time for children on Tuesdays at 10:30 am; and the Reading Rover brings the library to pre-schoolers and day care providers throughout the area.
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Web design — Deep Creek Arts
Thursday, September 9 - 7 pm.
Just
for Kids — Jackson County Public Library has a kids
library that’s
separate from the adult section, with lots of books, and
computers for children through middle-school age.
Free Internet access is available on five public access computers to all library visitors with a current photo ID. Access time is limited on busy days and is on a first come, first served basis. Printing from the computer is also available at 25¢ a page.
NC
Knows is a service that allows you to get help from
librarians and use their library resources from your computer.
It's free, helpful and easy. 
NC
LIVE gives North Carolina residents and students access
to searchable collections of magazine, newspaper, and journal
articles, electronic books, historical materials, maps, and
more. (Requires access code, available from the library). 