Lanier Library Celebrates 125 Years
By Gina Malone

Library evolves with the times

The Lanier Library has seen three separate decades, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the ushering in of the Information Age. With only five years separating the establishment of the library and the incorporation of Tryon as a town, the library has experienced much change through the years.

A play, “And So It Goes,” planned for June 28, in commemoration of the library’s 125^th anniversary, will highlight some of those changes with a bit of whimsical time travel that lets the library’s 1890 founders visit today’s 21^st century library.

What began as a desire for a library evolved into a club with many functions besides lending books. The Lanier Library, as we have seen, was a predecessor for many educational, artistic and civic organizations still around today.

Loosely organized at first around residents who came and went with the seasons, by 1892 the club became more formal with a constitution, bylaws and written rules regarding book withdrawals. By 1898, regular meetings were being held and guidelines for membership had been established. Proposed new members were sponsored by an established member and made official when they signed up and paid dues, raised that year to 50 cents a year.

By 1900 the club had 80 members which, considering the population of Tryon in those early days seems considerable. The club was still an organization of women only; it would be another 30 years before men were allowed to become members.

On April 13, 1905, the club signed incorporation papers as plans were finalized to begin building a permanent home for the growing collection. The library’s formal name became the Lanier Club, Inc.

In 1907 two new members who were also members of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) began to urge Lanier to consider joining that organization. In 1910 the Lanier Club became a member of the North Carolina branch of the federation. Through the 20 years they were members, they found that the GFWC was continually asking for money for projects at the state and national level. Club members gave when they could, notes say, but found it difficult with the funding of their own projects and maintenance of the library building.

The annual meeting of April, 1930, yielded several important changes. The board voted to withdraw from GFWC because “the national organization demanded so much time, energy and money that it was narrowing local usefulness.” Out from under the restrictions of a woman’s club, the board then decided to admit men as associate members. Finally, a stipulation was made that when debts had been paid, monies above $500 in the treasury would go into an endowment fund and be invested in Liberty Bonds.

Today, Lanier Library still depends on its endowment fund to remain viable as no funds are received from local, state or federal taxes, and low membership dues – in comparison to others of the 15 private membership libraries remaining in the U.S. – do not cover operating expenses.

As a nonprofit organization the library appreciates tax-deductible donations and bequests, and holds fundraisers such as the Sidney Lanier Poetry Competition and the Lanier Library Poetry Festival. This year’s second annual festival will be held April 24-25, and will include writing workshops, readings and a luncheon with keynote poet Richard Blanco. Registration information and a schedule of events, some free and all open to the public, may be found at www.lanierlibrarypoetryfestival.org.

The library upholds the precedent of cultural outreach set by its founders by hosting monthly Brown Bag Lunches, occasional Sunday Salons and annual programs for adults and children.

New members are always welcome at Lanier Library, and staff members are happy to show visitors around the 110-year-old building. Today’s Lanier Library is a wonderful blend of old and new with Wi-Fi coexisting harmoniously with the old-fashioned but completely updated card catalog. For library hours and information about becoming a member, please visit www.lanierlib.org or call 828-859-9535.