Copy of press release - Cleveland Library will offer its community’s 200,000 books and library supplies free to Johnston County’s K-12 schools and libraries starting August 3. The public is invited to purchase books for $1 or less, starting August 5. Sales tax will be collected as required by state law. Funds raised will pay current debt and any extra will be distributed in the community to support like-minded programs. In addition, there will be thousands of free new books available for all adult readers. Librarians and teachers will need school or agency ID to pick up their free books and DEMCO library supplies. A limited number of boxes and plastic bags will be available to help load the books. Ask about tables, hundreds of commercial and locally built bookcases and a 40’ 10,000 book capacity bookmobile. We may need them only until the books sell down. Most other furniture and electronics may be removed immediately. Free monitors for schools and libraries, while they last. You may bring helpers, but space is very limited for any equipment. The free book offer for schools and libraries is a charity distribution and the assets may not be for personal use or sale. The library is open 52 hours weekly during its 7 day a week schedule-Sun 1-5, Mon 1-9, Tues-Fri 9-5. Cleveland’s goal has been to increase the availability of books to Johnston’s residents and to ensure library service to unincorporated areas. Community volunteers are needed immediately to stack and move empty boxes for the sale. The director, Ron Still, is retiring August 4 after serving Cleveland’s needs since March 2003. In those nine years he oversaw free clothing distribution, which started with Cleveland’s needy and went around the world, free food for over 500,000 meals to slow hunger’s effects, co-op efforts with a national drug discount program saving locals $2-3 million annually, free computer lab, and in four years built the largest non-public funded library collection of its type in the state. Exhaustion and recent injuries require him to seek time off for treatment and the first vacation in over ten years. He will stay available to provide guidance and complete the wrap-up, hopefully before September 1. Without an organization or individual willing to continue the work, it is being dissolved.
Sad to see it go. I haven't had a car all summer, so I haven't been able to get my daughter out there. We'll have to head out there Sunday to check out some books. Enjoy your retirement Ron!
