As construction on the new East Tennessee State University central library progresses on schedule, the prospect of a major new library facility in the region has stirred activity leading to the dreation of a new library support organization, the ETSU Library Associates. This relationship includes fund-raising and volunteerism, but we are also shooting for establishing links between the community and the library which both allow community members and organizations to take advantage of the library's resources, and the library to benefit from the community's expertise, participation and enthusiasm for learning. Truly, we hope to be partners rather than patrons. The Library Associates advisory council developed from a steering committee after an organizational meeting was held in November 1996. After discussing how we envisioned the new group, and after looking through examples of bylaws, purpose statements and promotional materials other university support organizations around the country had produced, we formalized our own bylaws and, in mid-September, embarked on our first membership recruitment compaign.
Associates members are eager to improve the library collections and services.
We really look forward to having a wide membership of folks who will join us in learning how the books and technology in the new central library will contribute to enriching our lives and learning in East Tennessee. The first annual meeting of the ETSU Library Associates was held, Friday, October 24. The donation was presented by Richard K. Storey, regional executive. With this donation, NationsBank became the first corporate sustaining member in the ETSU Library Associates, the new support organization of the university library. The Library Associates' activities planned for 1998 in cooperation with the University Library include a workshop on the Internet, a book sale to benefit the new library, sponsorship of a library speaker and more.