Greenpond-Woodstock Library now a part of Woodstock Municipality
Finally the Greenpond Library has become a part of a municipality. Noel “Bill” Hubbard of Greenpond approached Woodstock Town Hall members months ago. He requested that Woodstock take over this special library so that he could retire without worrying what may happen to the facility. He knew he could not retire until it was in safe hands.
Until July 1 of this year, it was the only public library in the State of Alabama that was not in a municipality. For a long time, Hubbard’s goal was for it to become just that. His dream and goal finally became reality this month. The library and park were deeded to the Town of Woodstock. As Hubbard said, all the I’s have been dotted and the T’s have been crossed on all the needed paperwork.
The Greenpond-Woodstock Library was a great surprise to see when entering its establishment. The atmosphere from the very beginning, welcomes all who enter. The decor is of a homelike setting and makes one feel comfortably relaxed and ready to find that special book you may be seeking.
In 1995, fourteen years ago, Hubbard saw a need for a local library. He was a teacher at Hoover High School when one day while visiting his sister in Greenpond, kids came to her door asking to borrow her encyclopedia. The kids were almost in tears and did not have the sources needed for their assigned homework. That day, Hubbard saw a need and an idea began to form of the importance of having a local library for all the Greenpond citizens.
That same week, a meeting was held with the Greenpond Beautification Board. Once Hubbard presented his idea, everyone on the committee agreed there was indeed a need for a library and felt this would be an easy project to tackle. Thus began an idea and the idea soon became reality.
Hubbard’s uncle signed over land deeds on seven acres of property he owned and it was to be used for the future Greenpond Library.
The structure began with a doublewide trailer that had been used as a Home Economics College for the Talladega school system. When the modular buildings were no longer allowed, it became available to Hubbard. Later, the county gave them another modular to connect to the doublewide and soon a tower was built in between to connect the two modular structures to make the library look less like a mobile home. The construction was a success.
Now, books were needed. Stocking the library was a community project. Many patrons and the general public of Greenpond donated books and other items to bring the library to life. Even now, patrons pick up new books when traveling out of town and return with books just for this library. Some bookstores such as Books-a-Million donate books on a regular basis.
There is a wonderful computer room with 14 computers and each month approximately 600 individuals utilize the computers for research, job hunting and email. Hubbard said there are plans for more computers. Fax machines are open to the public and an extra line was installed due to the amount of patrons needing its use. Eight to nine thousand patrons visit the library on a yearly basis.
Another wonderful item the Greenpond-Woodstock Library has is a broadband I cam service that is set up to allow military families see and talk with loved ones on a more personal basis. To do this service, appointments have to be set up.
There are many people laid off or no longer have jobs to go to. Hubbard said they help job seekers put together resumes for their job searches. He said they have always had this service and now that so many people are jobless, the need has increased tremendously.
This library has become a place to set up meetings for the community’s use. Various individuals teach crafts and enjoy activities the community has set up. These are just some of the uses of the library in Greenpond.
Individuals donate unwanted items to be sold and the funds are used for the upkeep of the library and park.
The staff consists of retired citizens who volunteer their time. West Alabama Planning pays one employee.
Hubbard said, “If it were not for the general support of people in and outside of the community, we would not have been able to maintain the Greenpond Library as we had in the past. We have the most supportive group of people that I have ever known, in this area.”
Hubbard plans to stay at the Greenpond-Woodstock Library until a replacement can be found. At this time, Woodstock Town Hall is taking applications this position. Once he leaves, Hubbard said he would be close enough to help with any situation that may arise in the future. Hubbard sadly said he was going to miss the library but it was time for him to move on and begin working on his next venture. He did not want to elaborate what this new venture is.
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