LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Vicki Lauderdale is in her second year as president of the “Friends of the Laurel County Public Library.” Lauderdale joined the group approximately seven years ago, shortly after she moved to London.

Lauderdale grew up near Chicago, Ill., and raised her children in Alabama.  She said Illinois was “too cold,” Alabama “too hot,” but Kentucky seemed just right.

But all kidding aside, following her retirement as a college professor from the Troy State University in Montgomery, Ala., Lauderdale moved to Laurel County to be near her two children, Bert Lauderdale of London and Jennifer Beasley of Somerset, and grandchildren.  

“The library was a logical place to start to learn about my new community,” she said.  “It was a nice way to get acclimated to London.”

And, a good way to meet new people.

The first thing she did at the library was join the book club, of which she is a member still today.

“I liked the programs (at the library) at lot,” she said.  It seemed a natural thing, for a lifetime lover of books and learning, to become a supporter of the library through the “Friends” organization.

Friends of the Laurel County Public Library work to raise money for additional programs for the library, including two bus tours this year – one to Shaker Village last month and another to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati in February.

Lauderdale participates in many of the Friends-sponsored activities as president, but also for her own enjoyment.

“We want to have more and more people involved in the library, and make opportunities for people to participate in library activities.”

Through their fundraising efforts, Friends of the Library can help the library, who already does a tremendous job, Lauderdale said, afford even more community programs.

Another of the Friends’ projects is “Books for Babies,” which provides a book for every baby born at Saint Joseph-London.  Lauderdale estimates they purchase more than 800 books a year as part of this program.

This project is very dear to her heart.  As a retired educator, Lauderdale believes it’s never too early to start reading to your child.

“The sooner you involve a child in reading… the better prepared they are for school, for everything,” she said.

Lauderdale regularly reads to her young grandchildren in Somerset, often visiting their school classrooms to read to other students as well. She has five grandchildren, two of whom are in college.

The organization’s primary fundraisers are book sales, held in the spring and fall, and special performance events, which included a Frank Sinatra impersonator last year.

For Lauderdale, working for Friends of the Library is not really work.

“It’s a feel good thing,” she said.  “It’s fun to work with others who enjoy doing this.”

Lauderdale said she can’t say enough good about the Laurel County Public Library.  

“I’m very comfortable here,” she said.  “When you come to this library, you feel like it’s yours.  That’s not an easy thing for a library to do, with a history of having to be quiet.”

She said being a member of the Friends organization is just an added bonus for library patrons. Friends of the Library get first dibs on book sales and special invitations to Friends-only events at the library.

“Of course, you have all the benefits of the library without being a member of Friends,” she said, “but there are some perks.”

 

editor@sentinel-echo.com