Our History!
The Tellico Village Library started in 1987 as a book discussion group, meeting in homes. It was here that the idea of a local library started.
In 1989 the Loudon County Library Board arranged to have the regional bookmobile start visiting Tellico Village quarterly. 500 books were placed in a small alcove at the Yacht Club on the 5th floor. The honor system was used for checkout.
Over the years, the collection grew as homeowners donated books, while at the same time books disappeared as the honor system didn’t always work. In 1993 the collection was moved to the loft level (now the bridal room) at the Yacht Club.
In 1994 the HOA formed a Library Committee and provided emergency funding to cover the missing books. Committee member Maryann Bork led an effort to create a Friends of the Library support group. The first meeting of the Friends was held October 1994, with 94 charter members. It was soon realized that a regular income flow was needed to finance operating expenses and future growth. Membership dues were the first source of income, soon followed by a used book sale. Proceeds from dues, book sales, preview party, auction and other fundraising activities helped the library expand rapidly and it soon outgrew the Yacht Club space.
The Friends signed a lease in 1997 for a 1,000 sq ft space at Lakeside Plaza. In October 1997 the Library became part of the Loudon County Public Library System (open to all county residents) and Becky Haile was hired as the first Library Director. By 2001 the library had again outgrown its quarters. In 2002 the Lakeside Plaza location was doubled in size to 2,000 sq ft. The space was renovated and new shelving and furnishings were obtained through the generosity of the community.
In 1998, The Friends of the Tellico Village Library was awarded the Friends of Libraries U.S.A./Harper Collins Publishers Award in honor of author Barbara Kingsolver, with the $10,000 prize to be used for the purchase of books. In 2000, the library received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Learning Foundation for internet-access computer workstations and support software and has continued to receive additional support from this Foundation. Since 2001, the library has received several significant grants from the Jane I. Pettway Foundation of Knoxville for support and expansion of library services. In 2006, the Friends received $50,000 from the estate of Maryann Bork, founding member of the Friends. In 2017, the Friends received a $9,616 Technology Grant from the State of Tennessee and have received additional grants in later years.
In 2004, the Friends began a program to build a new Library with square footage and resources capable to meet future needs of the community. Land was purchased in 2009 and design of a 6,500 sq ft facility began. In 2011 agreement was reached with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Office for financing with a USDA long-term, low interest loan. Construction began in December 2011, and the library (now called The Public Library at Tellico Village) opened on November 5, 2012.
In 2014, the Friends of the Tellico Village Library was honored as Friend of the Year by the Friends of Tennessee Libraries, and in 2016 was awarded an Honorable Mention by the American Library Association at the National Friends of Libraries Week Awards. The Library was closed in 2018 after suffering major water damage from a major rainstorm. Thanks to the overwhelming financial generosity of the community, the Friends of Tellico Village Library was able to make the library “better than new” and reopened after six weeks.
Since the Library is in an unincorporated area of Loudon County and has no tax-base, the Friends provide most of the funds to operate the library (e.g., mortgage, insurance, and operating expenses). The Library Manager and a part-time Assistant’s salary is paid by the County. Major sources of income for the Friends are memberships, book sales, fundraisers, and donations. Donations are received through purchase of leaves for the Donor Tree in the library entry foyer, bricks installed in the Maryann Bork Memorial Courtyard, purchase of Section Memorials throughout the library, and of course the generous donations made by many residents, clubs, businesses, and community organizations.
