South Cheatham Library support group dissolves

The South Cheatham County Friends of the Library (FOTL) is once again no more.

After FOTL president Kandace Kapanka and treasurer Lana Foster announced their resignation on Nov. 7, no one from the community stepped up to replace them, ultimately dissolving the group back into the Ashland City Friends of the Library run by president Lindy Murff and treasurer Martha Rawls.

The South Cheatham FOTL will be reinstated when leadership for the nonprofit is one again established.

These are the latest stirrings in a contentious year for the Kingston Springs facility, one that began with the sudden resignation of former director Sara Schultz in May, continued with the contested appointment of new director Jennifer Ensley in August and has been further complicated by the launch of plans for constructing a new multi-faceted library to replace the current log structure site on Main Street.

During the Nov. 7 FOTL meeting, there was a discussion about polling users of the library for their reactions to plans for building a new library in Kingston Springs, including the possibility of emailing queries to around 2,000 card holders, but no action was taken. “We have not figured out how our computer system can send it out to everybody,” library Director Jennifer Ensley said. “We'll have to get with our IT department to help us with that.” She did note that the county's library board — not the library itself — will conduct any such survey.

The South Cheatham FOTL comes to an end as the library gears up to host its annual holiday events. Foster said in her resignation letter that FOTL played a significant role in supporting the library staff during their year-round events.

Buoyed by the success of its Trick or Trick on Main Street promotion — which attracted 520 treat-seekers — the South Cheatham County Library in Kingston Springs will continue its community-involvement programs with its annual Christmas tree lighting on its front porch Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., and Cookies with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. until noon.

Cookie contestants must submit their entries at the library between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13 with judging to follow shortly afterward, according to head librarian Ensley.