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Waters Family gives $50,000 for Library |
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SEVIERVILLE - The J.B. Waters Family will announce Friday a $50,000 gift for construction |
| of the main Sevier County Public Library. |
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"I was involved 40 years ago in the current library, then the new library, and am proud to be able |
| to participate in the project this time around." said John B. Waters. "The new library is going to be a tremendous asset to everyone in Sevier County, and it's long overdue." |
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The library has come a long way from the initial efforts of Fred Rawlings who, in 1922, obtained |
| a loan of 200 books from the War Service Department to start the Sevier County Library. Today, the System has three locations with more than 84,000 holdings. Half of all Sevier County residents have an active library card, officials said. |
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The new library will be 45,000 square feet, built where the King Lumber Co. was located at the |
| intersection of Gary Wade Boulevard/High Street and Prince/Railroad Street. It is close to Sevierville Intermediate and Middle schools. BarberMcMurry Architects has designed a building that officials say marries a traditional building that fits in with historic Sevierville with a state-of-the-art library inside. |
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Sevier County has pledged $2.5 million and the City of Sevierville has pledged $2 million. From |
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the private sector, the lead gift made by the King family of $1 million and an additional $500,000 in a challenge gift along with other donations brings the total up to nearly $7 million. |
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"Our family wants to the leaders of our community to step forward and make their pledge," said |
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Waters. "We need their help. Everyone understands the intrinsic value to having a top-notch, state-of-the-art library for our county. |
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Our current main library, built 40 years ago, is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of our |
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growing community." |
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Some of the newest donors to the library campaign include Bob Burchfiel, Lanning Wynn, Al |
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Blanton, Sevier County Bank, Citizens National Bank, Jack and Janice Frost, and the Haslam Foundation. |
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The goal for the library foundation is to reach $8.5million by June 1, and the campaign will |
| continue until the $10 million goal is reached. The groundbreaking is expected at the end of the summer. |
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| The Mountain Press - Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
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