Giving Thanks - Thank You Board Trustees!

This month Fontana Regional Library celebrates the season with an attitude of gratitude! We want to take time to express our thanks to the folks who make our public libraries possible.

A Big “Thank You” to our Board Members

Fontana Regional Library is composed of libraries from 3 counties: Jackson, Macon, and Swain. Each county has its own Library Board, comprised of volunteers appointed by the County Commissioners. Each County Library Board acts as an advisory and communicatory body- advising the library on the needs of the community and liaising with the Board of County Commissioners. 

Three members from each County Library Board are also appointed to the Fontana Regional Library Board- the governing authority for Fontana Regional Library. The Regional Board has a fiduciary responsibility for the operation of the Library. 

Our Board Trustees go above and beyond their expected and legal responsibilities. They advocate for the library within the local government and the community and volunteer in many additional capacities. Several Board members also belong to their local Friends of the Library Organizations.

Recently, Macon County Library Board Members were instrumental to the success of the Friends' Books on Tap Event- selling tickets, providing food, assisting with setup, and hosting the event!

Members of the Board have also volunteered to act as stewards for our Little Libraries- under their watch and management, our Little Libraries have put over 2,400 books into the community in the first year of their inception. 

The Hudson Board

The Hudson Board of Trustees serve The Hudson Library, Inc.- a private non-profit corporation. This board, while not a governmental entity, conducts fundraising activities to raise money for materials, furnishings, and more. They also operate the Bookworm, a used book store which benefits the Library. Last year the Hudson Board contributed $34,000 to Hudson Library to support collections and programming. 

The Hudson Board also supports “Community Coffee at Hudson Library,” a program that brings the town together with Mayor Patrick Taylor for open discussion (and coffee!) for an hour on the last Friday of each month.

This past September, John Gaston was recognized as Laurel Magazine’s “Highlands Volunteer of the Month.” John volunteers at the library as a technology tutor, providing free assistance at the library twice a week. John also trains new volunteers and helps process and repair books at the Library, in addition to serving as an active Hudson Board member, and has volunteered over 1,800 hours.

Thank you to all of our Board Trustees! We appreciate everything you do!