New Friends Centre opens at Georgetown Library

The Georgetown County Library is pleased to welcome a new chapter of community engagement with the opening of the Friends of the Georgetown Library Centre, now located in the former Heritage Center space at the main library branch in Georgetown.

The new Friends Centre had a soft opening last week after the winter weather subsided, with an official grand opening and ribbon cutting planned for Feb. 24, following the Friends of the Georgetown Library annual meeting. The meeting begins at 4:30 pm, with the ribbon cutting planned for approximately 5:30 pm. 

The Friends Centre was part of the long-term vision during the library’s recent renovations. Friends of the Georgetown Library President Bob Willey said the goal has always been to create a welcoming space where visitors can browse affordable books, relax and connect with others in a comfortable setting.

“This has been in the plans since the beginning of the renovation project,” Willey said. “We wanted a place where people could come in, find books and magazines, sit down and read, enjoy a snack or coffee, and even gather for small meetings. It’s meant to be a relaxed, inviting corner of the library.”

The Friends Centre welcomes visitors on a regular schedule, open Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 5 pm. Visitors can enter through the library’s main entrance, turn left through the computer area, and take another left into the Friends Centre corridor. Volunteers are needed to help staff the center in two-hour shifts. In the meantime, library staff is helping to fill gaps. Volunteers are welcome to bring a friend and enjoy a relaxed environment while assisting visitors.

The center offers hardback and paperback fiction, children’s books, and a growing selection of magazines published within the last two years. Children’s books are especially affordable, priced at 50 cents each or four for $1. Over time, the collection is expected to expand to include a wider variety of genres and materials. Donations can be dropped off at the library’s front desk, where holds them for sorting and storage. Linda Bradley of the Friends group is coordinating volunteers, and email is the preferred method of contact for those interested in helping: [email protected].

In the past, the Friends organization primarily sold books during seasonal events such as the summer Georgetown Farmers Markets and the Friends of the Library’s bi-annual community yard sales. The new center allows residents to browse and purchase books year-round, helping support library programs and services throughout the community. Specialty and rare books will continue to be reserved for special events, including summer sales at the Farmers Market, the Wooden Boat Show, and the annual community yard sale.

The new Friends Centre reflects the continued partnership between the library and the community, providing a welcoming space for reading, connection and lifelong learning.