JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
The Beene-Pearson Public Library in South Pittsburg has officially kicked-off two brand new community activities during the first full week of the month.
Hosted every Monday and Tuesday, Beene-Pearson’s newest additions to its roster of activities, Senior Club and Snack & Studies, will community members to gather within the library premises to utilize its public space to either get together or to have a work space for school assignments. Tammy Parker, Assistant Library Director for Beene-Pearson, explained the Senior Club was founded by two community members who wanted to establish a new, weekly get-together event in South Pittsburg. The weekly Snack & Studies, meanwhile, was formed to help further promote the library’s services to youths between 7th-12th grades, encouraging students that they are always welcomed to the library and utilize its various supplies and services for the next school project.
“They’re welcome to come any day of the week to study,” said Parker. “But specifically on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., for our Snack & Study we offer a snack for those three hours.”
Parker explained Beene-Pearson aims to host the Snack & Study every Tuesday in conjunction with the local schools during the year. The Senior Club is held every Monday at 10 a.m., with it expected to continue running throughout every month of the year.
Additionally, Parker said Friends of the Library in Marion County are in the works of establishing a new book club for the library this year, adding in a future activity for library enthusiasts to participate in. She expressed hope by already having the Senior Club and Snack & Study in place, both events would help attract residents and newcomers into the facility, showcasing the library as a community hub.
“We need everybody to know the library is a community hub,” said Parker. “We’re not just books. This is a place that everyone can come gather, hangout, and take advantage of all the free resources we have.”
Beene-Pearson Library is open Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The library is closed every Thursday and Sunday, as well as for major holidays each year.