Seven ways to love Linebaugh on The Murfreesboro Post

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Seven ways to love Linebaugh

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Posted: Monday, February 8, 2010 12:53 pm

Rutherford County’s public library system is strapped for financial support.

Because of inadequate funding, Linebaugh Public Library System (LPLS) does not meet state minimum standards in several categories—some of them are basic, like facilities and personnel.

In America, libraries receive about $32 in funding per person; Tennessee libraries receive about half that amount.

LPLS’s per capita funding is meager by comparison. The library system received less than $9 per person in its 2008-09 budget year. Neighboring library systems in Nashville received about $50 per person, and Brentwood was allocated $65.

“The population of Rutherford County is growing by leaps and bounds. Last year, the Census Bureau ranked us as the fastest growing county in Tennessee,” LPLS Director Rita Shacklett said. “Library funding is not keeping pace. We had more than half a million visits to a library in our system last year—clearly demonstrating our community’s need for a high quality library.”

“We feel a lot of gratitude from our patrons,” said Heather Lanier, Circulation supervisor at Linebaugh Library. “Many patrons want to know what they can do to help the library. So we developed a list of Seven Ways to Love Your Library.”

During the week of Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14-20), the library system encourages Rutherford County to show how much they love their library, and to keep the love flowing throughout the rest of the year:

1. Contact your city/county officials and tell them how important the library is to you.

LPLS is jointly funded by the governments of Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Eagleville and Rutherford County and operated by the Linebaugh Library Board. The library system is not a department of the city or county and does not have their funding or benefits. (See contact information below.)

2. Round up your fine.

“If you owe $2.50 for overdue fees, pay $3. It all comes right back to you, as those revenues help pay for our expenses,” Lanier said.

3. Bring a friend who doesn’t have a library card to the library with you.

“Currently, more than half of the population in the LPLS service area has a library card,” Shacklett said. “We’d like for all of Rutherford County to be members.”

To get a library card, adults (over 18 years old) need to bring a photo ID & proof of current address. Children (under 18) must bring a parent who has the above requirements.

4. Attend a free program.

LPLS offers a variety of educational and cultural programming each month. A complete listing of events is available at www.linebaugh.org or at any of our branches. Below are just a few highlights for February.

• Winter Reading Program – through Feb. 26 at Linebaugh, Smyrna, and Eagleville Libraries – Teens and adults win prizes for reading books.

• Unplug & Read – Valentine’s Day at Linebaugh – 1-5:30 p.m. - Come and play board games, select books, and find entertainment that doesn’t require electricity.

• Sherrilyn Kenyon – Feb. 20 at Linebaugh – 1 p.m. – Meet the author and have her sign a copy of your book.

• Spring Planting – Feb. 20 at Smyrna Library – 10 a.m. – Join us for a gardening session led by a local Master Gardener and learn how to prepare for winter’s thaw.

• J. T. Ellison – Feb. 23 at Linebaugh – 7 p.m. – Meet the author and have her sign a copy of your book.

5. Honor your loved ones.

Your contributions help the library system to expand its collection, which benefits our community.

Memorial and tribute books may be purchased with contributions of $35 and above. A tribute book is a wonderful way to honor loved ones on a birthday, wedding, anniversary, graduation, promotion—or any other special occasion.

6. Name Linebaugh Library Foundation as a beneficiary in your will.

“Please don’t leave us yet, but consider the future,” Shacklett said. “We are desperate for additional branches in ever-expanding Rutherford County. Donations, endowments, bequests, property and stocks may be donated to the Foundation as a means to fund long-term projects that will help us better serve our patrons.”

7. Join Friends of the Library.

Our Friends of the Library offers financial support beyond the regular resources of the library.

The Friends sponsors the annual Pen Pals program, which brings authors into area elementary schools, as well other special programming.

Individual membership is no more than $20 per year; corporations and businesses can join the Friends for $1000. Inquire at your nearest branch and find out how to join!

“The whole community will be grateful for your love of libraries and your support! Imagine our community without a library—Rutherford County would lose a place for people to connect and enrich their lives, as well as economic development opportunities,” Shacklett said.

Linebaugh Public Library is located at 105 W. Vine St. in Murfreesboro with additional branches in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Eagleville. The Library is the cornerstone of our community, enriching lives through free resources for learning, fun, and opportunity. For more information, call 615-893-4131 or visit www.linebaugh.org.

Tagged under City, Event, Linebaugh Library, RuCo

Member Opinions:

By: PattyMTN on 2/8/10
Thank you for publishing this information. Please note the following correction. The Unplug & Read activity scheduled for Sunday February 14 begins at 1:00 p.m. (and ends at 5:30 p.m.)

Patricia Metcalf
Reference Librarian
Linebaugh Public Library