Friends of the Lemon Grove Library ushered in a new president — marketing consultant and library enthusiast Jim Elliott — during a swearing-in ceremony, which took place on Jan. 31.
Friends of the Lemon Grove Library ushered in a new president — marketing consultant and library enthusiast Jim Elliott — during a swearing-in ceremony, which took place on Jan. 31.
Rosemary Putnam, emeritus president and 20-year driving force behind the Friends, presided during the ceremony held in the Community Room which bears her name at the Lemon Grove Library, located at 8073 Broadway.
“We are privileged to have the superintendent of schools here,” said Putnam introducing Ernest Anastos, Lemon Grove School District superintendent, who swore in Elliott and his 2013 board.
The instigator of the successful 2008 Prop. W bond drive that is funding library construction and local school upgrades, Anastos noted it was “a special day in a very special year,” before giving kudos to Friends for their accomplishments.
“This remarkable organization has raised money every month for countless local libraries, especially for the children’s summer reading program,” he said. “Because of your dedication, we will open a brand new library this year with an enviable first-day collection completely underwritten by Friends of the Lemon Grove Library. This accomplishment makes this swearing-in of a new board president all the more significant,” he added.
Of Elliott, Anastos said, “Jim is the right person for this historic moment. His years of support of the Friends is a matter of record. Jim knows what it is to construct a building from scratch because he has done it. He knows about building organization, administration, about shaking the money tree, about building public relations, about leadership because he has done it all.”
Elliott spoke of the days ahead for Friends as a new era in their history. “Now a new day has dawned,” he said. “Lemon Grove is getting its first building constructed as a library. The days of operating out of storefronts and shopping plazas are over. The beautiful Mission Revival-style Lemon Grove Library will serve the school district and general public alike — and feature a Friends bookstore right by the front door.
“The challenges will be larger. One of my goals is to establish an endowment for the Friends of the Lemon Grove Library and encourage bequests.”
Putnum said Elliott was the correct choice to be the Friends president because of “his deep belief in the importance of libraries and lifelong learning.”
“We have a new leader in a new library who combines business acumen with a non-profit sensibility, and who knows Lemon Grove and its people,” she said.
The brand new Lemon Grove Library and Friends bookstore, located on the corner of Lincoln and School Lane will open its doors in the late spring.
