Friends of Union County Library (FOUCL)

Advocating for Libraries, Literacy, and Lifelong Learning

PO Box 1546; Blairsville, GA 30514

Every spring the Friends of Georgia Libraries (FOGL) accepts nominations for its “Best Friend” award - recognizing an individual who has made a significant contribution to strengthen Georgia’s libraries through advocacy and support efforts. Doris Tilly was selected as 2020’s winner.

Doris is the founding member of Friends of Towns County Libraries and served as its first president. Over the years, she applied for and received grants to enhance Mountain Regional Library which made possible a butterfly garden, the purchase of gardening books, and the purchase young adult books. When Mountain Regional Library was renovated in 2016, she generously donated significant funds in memory of her husband and daughter to help complete and furnish the Children’s Room.

Doris is currently a resident of Union County and a member of FOUCL, as well as remaining active in FOLTC. Congratulations, Doris, and thank you for all you do for libraries.

In 2010, Donna Howell, Director of the Mountain Regional Library System in Young Harris, nominated The Friends Of Union County Library for the prestigious 2009 Fabulous Friends Award, from the Friends Of Georgia Libraries.

To view the letter of nomination, Click Here

Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris received the Charles Beard Library Advocacy Award from the Georgia Library Association on October 8, 2009 for Outstanding Contributions to Georgia’s Libraries.

The Charles Beard Library Advocacy Award was originally called the Library Advocacy Award. It was renamed in 2003 to honor Charles Beard, Georgia’s strongest library advocate. The Charles Beard Library Advocacy Award is given each year to recognize someone not employed in or by a library who has made outstanding contributions to libraries.

Qualifications for the Award:

Must have made outstanding contributions to libraries at either the local, state or national level.

Must NOT be a library employee, a library support service employee, or a library vendor employee.