Walter Pitt, Sarah Andrews, and Janet Batson, who are Friends of the Library members and volunteers, have been working tirelessly to assist the Cheatham County Library in making better utilization of its already limited space. The Friends of the Library have, for years, held monthly book sales to help raise funds to support library needs and programs above and beyond what the library’s budget will cover. Through this process, a small storage room in the library basement that was currently being used by the Friends group, will be converted into a book sale room that will be open to the public more than just once a month; it will be operated by Friends members and volunteers. There will be a wide variety of books and other materials available that will range from “antique” to current publications, and all items for sale will be priced at $1.00 or less. A local church group has volunteered to assist with building new shelves for the room as well.
Another part of the project they are working on is to assist library staff in cleaning and organizing a larger room in the library basement that is currently being used by the library as a storage / work area. Once complete, the area will house the library’s existing Reference, Historical, and Genealogical collection. Moving this collection downstairs will help to free up much-needed space on the library’s main level, and will also be a complimentary companion to the Cheatham County History Center and Museum, which is located across the hall. Cheatham County Historical and Genealogical Association volunteers, along with library staff, will assist visitors who wish to have access to and view the print collections and microfilm. Barring any unforeseen complications, the goal is to have the project complete sometime late in the Fall of this year.