FORTNIGHTLY CLUB PRESENTS $37,000 TO CITY OF BRENHAM FROM BOOK SALE PROCEEDS

  

The Fortnightly Club gave back to the City of Brenham during its spring luncheon today (Thursday) at the Ant Street Inn.

Representatives from the club presented city officials with a check for $37,000, coming by way of proceeds from the club’s used book sale held every February at the Washington County Expo.  The funding will be used to purchase new books and technology improvements at the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library.

City of Brenham Librarian Tammy Murphy said the city is fortunate to have an organization like the Fortnightly Club that dedicates itself to the betterment of the library and its programs. 

Mayor Atwood Kenjura and City Manager Carolyn Miller also thanked the Fortnightly Club and commended its members for their continued support, with Kenjura calling the group “an unbelievable organization.”

According to Lu Hollander, Second Vice President and Past President for the Fortnightly Club, this year’s used book sale drew over 1,500 attendees from as far away as Oklahoma. 

During an update on the library’s operations, Murphy said the library had 95,588 items checked out last year, including books and other items.  Last year’s Fortnightly Club donation, paired with the city budget, helped to purchase 2,792 books and an AWE children’s computer.  The donation also assisted with the library’s summer reading program, genealogy collection and technology upgrades. 

Murphy said the library hopes to make several additions to the program room like a mounted camera, wireless digital microphone system, laser projector, new hearing and audio devices and other updates, in order to better accommodate local clubs and organizations.  With the enhancements, the space could also be utilized for staff training and remote programming.