By By Lydia Grimes
news reporter
The brick house on the corner of Belleville and Halsey has been the site of much activity in recent months. Once a residence, the house has been turned into a community meeting place maintained by the Friends of the Public Library.
Doug Mitchell, the liaison between the Friends and the library, said the group has been working on the house to turn it into a facility for the public.
Once of home of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Findley, the house was bought after their death and anonymously donated to the City of Brewton. The city gave the house to the Friends of the Library, with the stipulation that it be used by organizations free of charge and to help the library.
The Friends spent two years renovating the facility, repairing it and making it handicapped accessible.
The floors were refinished and bookcases built to house all the books, DVDs and other items the Friends have acquired over the years. There is even a room set aside for children.
The Friends of the Brewton Public Library Inc. is a not-profit volunteer organization that encourages community advocacy for the library and supports the library collection, programs, services and facilities through fundraising and donations. The members raise funds through book sales and the membership drive. The funds are used to help maintain library programs and the community house.
The Friends are still looking for those who would like to join them to make the library all that it can be. The officers of the Friends are Susan Jennings, president; Byron Findley, secretary; and Gayle Fountain, treasurer. Other board members include Doris Crowell, Sue Downing, Betty Campbell, Emily Wesley and Thad Moore. The Friends are taking applications for those who would like to join this group. The cost of joining ranges from $5 to $100, which is a charter lifetime.
Mitchell said community groups are welcome to use the Friends of the Library’s community house.