Reading Capital of the World

Book Nooks continue to pop up around town

By: Chris Beckham

Tifton Gazette

05/21/2003

TIFTON – Two local volunteer organizations are teaming with two retired
educators to keep Tiftonites reading while they wait.
Book Nooks are not new to the area with many already around town in doctors’
offices, City Hall, banks and so forth. Now, the Tift County Foundation for
Educational Excellence and the Tifton Junior Woman’s Club are teaming up to
provide 50 nooks by the end of the year. About 25 nooks have already been
established and getting one is as easy as picking up a phone.

Businesses can contact the TCFEE, the Junior Woman’s Club or any of their
members to find out details. Once the call is made, members from the clubs
will visit the business to further explain the nooks and pick out colors for
the accompanying sign. Once the sign is made, another visit is made with
Dotty Royal and Jo Griffeth, longtime Tiftarea educators, joining club
members to bring books, the sign and bookmarks. Books for adults and
children are available and the cost for the entire setup is $100.

“That covers the sign and all of the materials and part of it is a donation
to the foundation,” said TCFEE executive director Mike Brumby. “We have some
places, like the Soup Kitchen, that we don’t charge. Anywhere that anyone
has to wait, there should be a nook there.”

Until the last several months, the foundation put in the nooks by themselves.
Then Lisa Smith from the TJWC found out about the program and spoke to her
club about becoming involved.

“It was a natural for us,” Smith said. “We felt it was a way that we could
help the community and our club could get more publicity. We’re the best
kept secret in Tifton. We do a scholarship at ABAC and the Tree of Life and
other different things around the community. We’re proud to be in the
Reading Capital of the World.”

The Foundation largely put in nooks on purely a request basis until Smallwood
joined the board last year. He has been proactive, calling on businesses and
speaking at civic clubs to let them know the benefits of the nooks.

“When Tommy started with them, they took off,” Brumby said.

“It’s not hard – everyone is always very receptive to us,” Smallwood said.

“Everyone’s proud of what this town has done and once they see what it is,
they’re excited.”

Griffeth said she became involved after reading an article about the program
in The Gazette. Brumby said the combination of people working on the project
gives him hope that 50 nooks will be established by year’s end.

All books are donated and can be dropped off at City Hall. Occasionally,
Royal and Griffeth will visit the nooks to replenish books and make sure
that those there are in good shape.

“Any book that would be suitable and is in good condition can be donated,
children’s or adults,” Griffeth said.

To find out more information about nooks, contact the TCFEE at 382-4328.