History of the Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library
The Brundidge library is exceptional for a small town, in that it has had strong, continuous community support for decades. As with many libraries, there was a reading club in town as early as 1900. By 1940, a library was started downstairs in City Hall. In 1959, the official public library opened in Brundidge. By 1974, it was established in an 1897 home in downtown Brundidge. In 1989, the library was officially named Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library. An additional building was constructed separately and the library moved into it in 2012. In 2021, The library completed a Lowe’s 100Hometown grant that provided for a connector, so that the two separate buildings are now one.
The library provides collections and programs for all ages. It achieved the Alabama Public Library Standards of Achievement Award at the Gold Level in 2019. The award is attained by exceptional public libraries in Alabama, in recognition of superior planning and levels of excellence. The Alabama Public Library Standards consist of criteria that measure facilities, administration & governance, planning, budgeting, staffing, continuing education, promotion & partnering, collections, services and technology.
The library provides collections and programs for all ages. It achieved the Alabama Public Library Standards of Achievement Award at the Gold Level in 2019. The award is attained by exceptional public libraries in Alabama, in recognition of superior planning and levels of excellence. The Alabama Public Library Standards consist of criteria that measure facilities, administration & governance, planning, budgeting, staffing, continuing education, promotion & partnering, collections, services and technology.
CHRONOLOGY
- 1900 - Reading Club – J.E. Moore, Dr. J. W. Robertson, Mattie L. Waters, Bessie Mooore, Rev. N.C. Underwood, Dr. J.A. McEachern, Professor B. H. Boyd.
Disbanded later with books donated to PCHS - 1940 - Library started downstairs in City Hall with Emma Nell Maloy as librarian.
- 1956 - Library Service Act/Lister Hill
- 1958 - 100 Pike County citizens formed a Library Development Committee. Curren A. Farmer, head. $7000 from Pike County Commission and $3000 from Troy City Commission.
- 1959 - Joined Choctawhatchee Regional Library Service. New bookmobile. Public Library opens in Brundidge. First National Bank building; above City Hall with Mary Ellen Bryant as librarian. Wonnie Crawley and Katherine Brantley as bookmobile librarians.
- 1959 - McEachern colonial home torn down with salvaged materials used to build library.
- 1965 - Janie M. Wallace librarian - Board members during Ms. Wallace’s tenure – Gus Pierson, Sadie Johnston, Cranford Hataway, Ann Andres, Virginia Wallace, Diane Johnston, Earl Helms, Douglas Botts, Sara Bowden.
- 1974 - Dedication of Brundidge library in the Tupper Lightfoot house. Lillian Johnston, Mayor
- 1989 - Dedication service renaming the library after Tupper Lightfoot.
- 1990 - Broke from Choctawhatchee Regional and formed Pike County Library Cooperative with Troy Public Library (Georgianna Thomas, Director)
- 1994 - Janie Mae Wallace retirement after 29 years. Replaced by Barbara Sanders.
- 1996 - Jean Carroll Acting Director.
- 1997 - Rosalyn Connor Holmes becomes Director
- 1997 - Renovation of building.
- Jean Carroll becomes Director
- 2011 - IMacs rec’d
- 2012 - Library moves into additional building
- 2015 - Jean Carroll retires
- July 2015 - Theresa Trawick becomes Director.
- April 2019 - Library is awarded Alabama Public Library Standards of Achievement Award at the GOLD Level
- 2021 - Two Library buildings are connected thanks to a Lowe's Grant
- November 2023 - Theresa Trawick retires. Thank you for 8 great years!