Library Director Mary Brown, Library Technical Assistant Savannah Baggett and Children’s Library Assistant Renee Crews.
Times Editor
The Union County Public Library (UCPL) and its staff are one of the greatest assets in the community. They offer not only books, other materials and computer access to all of their patrons, the library offers an abundant mix of programs for all ages and interests. In many cases they remember faces and names, along with the particular reader’s tastes, favorite authors and genres. Always quick with a friendly comment, a warming smile and often a suggestion of a book the patron might like, all are helpful and caring.
The UCPL officially opened in 1990, after a referendum in the 1988 when county voters agreed to a one-
half mill ad valorem tax with the funds earmarked for the creation of a new library for the county. This referendum is ongoing and has been passed by voters every two years since the initial placement on the ballot. Community support is strong in this matter. In addition to the ad valorem funds, financial assistance comes from individual donations and from the State Aid to Libraries Grant.
When the UCPL opened its doors in 1990 the county became the last in the state to provide its citizens with a public library. The original building to house the library was the former home of a branch office of Guaranty Federal Savings and Loan, built in the mid-1970s. The library started
out occupying the 1,400 square foot renovated building, increased to 3,300 square feet in 1997. In 2009 the library entered the home it still occupies today, a specially constructed 9,000 square foot building on Southeast Fifth Ave. in Lake Butler, with its former home becoming the office of the Union County Supervisor of Elections.
Virginia Bird, known familiarly as “Ginny” was the county’s first librarian and she was critical to the establishment of the library. She was also a driving force behind the formation of the New River Public Library Cooperative (NRPLC), which allowed the library to join with the public libraries in Bradford and Baker counties to expand the services offered and take advantage of an increased purchasing power.
When the Internet and computer access came to the fore and became a part of many people’s lives, NRPLC worked to create a unified system for its three member libraries, as well as offering support in the areas of equipment, materials and creating connections not only to the Internet, but within the cooperative as well. In 1997, Bird took over as the director of the cooperative and children’s librarian Mary Brown took over the director’s position at UCPL. A position she still fills today.
After taking over the reins of the library, Brown began to envision a newer, larger library more suitable to being frequently updated as technology and the community’s need evolved. MSB Consultants was hired in 2004 to help Brown in applying for the State Aid to Libraries Construction Grant, which was written and approved in 2005. ROTCI Construction Management, owned by Richard Tillis, and Clemons, Rutherford & Associates, an architectural firm from Tallahassee, were brought on board over the next few years to oversee the project.
The grant money needed to be supplements in order to build the planned library, so several years of fund raising programs and events, as well as many donations from local individuals and help from the Union County Board of Commissioners, the new library finally became a reality on Aug. 1, 2009.
From humble beginnings the UCPL now has holdings including more than 50,000 books and materials and offers several thousands more reading and listening opportunities in the form of e-books and magazines, as well as e-audio offerings. The 10 public access computers open up the world of the Internet and many online databases to library patrons, as well as allowing them to take care of personal business best done online. For those with laptops and tablets, free Wi-Fi is also offered.
During the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, library staff were ready to keep serving their patrons, in a time when books suddenly became more important to many people suddenly forced to stay at home. A drive-thru service was initiated that allowed patrons to call ahead and place their book orders, often with suggestions from library staff, then drive by the side of the building and have their books brought to their car by library staff. Even when the doors were closed, county residents could still come to town and get something to read thanks to this innovative idea.
Although most of the offerings had to go online or were put on hold during the peak of the pandemic, all are up and running again, with the wide variety of programs and other services offered by UCPL. It seems that there is something going on at the library almost every weekday and there are programs for all ages and interests.
UCPL has become the new home for the Union County Senior Social Club, that formerly met at the Lake Butler Hospital. These events complete with programs specially tailored to the needs and interests of senior citizens take place twice a month, on the first and last Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays see the popular Storytime for children at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays. Stories change each week, so children that can attend on either day in the same week and not miss a program. The stories presented usually form a monthly theme and encourage a love of books and learning in their young listeners.
On the first the third Thursdays of each month there are after-school games for the older kids and the Kid’s Craft program is offered on the third Friday of each month. During the pandemic, this program was taken online, where it remains, with kits of supplies available for pickup at the library so the crafters can work safely at home. There is also an adult program that often offers craft work as well, offered at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.
The library has quite a few volunteers and others who work in various ways to keep things running well. Two of these are the Friends of the Library and the Junior Friends of the Library who work to put on book sales, selling donated books and materials and using the funds for program materials and even a scholarship or two.
The UCPL is a busy place on most days, with parents and their children coming and going, returning, selecting and checking out books and other patrons making use of the computers. Some people take their materials home, but others take the time to sit and read the numerous magazines and newspapers the library provides. There really is something for everyone at the library these days and members of the Union County Community are encouraged to come to the library and join in the fun. Reading is a lifelong habit that is one of the greatest gifts that can be given to a child and older readers keep their reading habit fresh by trying new authors and genres every so often. The UCPL is the place to be in the county, to find education, edification and just good, old fashioned fun. Come on out and give it a try….it could become a habit!
