Due to hazardous roads conditions, the Dawson and Lumpkin County Libraries will open Tuesday, September 12th at 12 noon. All morning programs have been canceled. Updates will be posted to the website.

In 1917, using donated books, donated furniture and a rented room in the Hall House, the Dahlonega Woman’s Club opened Lumpkin County’s first public library.

For 100 years, the library has continually served the people of Lumpkin. The Lumpkin Library Centennial Committee plans to honor that service with a ten week celebration of the library and a community-focused 100th anniversary party on November 4 in Downtown Dahlonega.

The celebration starts August 11 and runs for ten weeks, culminating with Centennial Day, November 4, highlighted by a parade around Dahlonega Square, speeches by dignitaries, and a county-wide anniversary party at the Lumpkin library with hot dogs, drinks, and a giant anniversary cake.

Hosting the Lumpkin Library Centennial celebration are the Lumpkin County Commission and the City of Dahlonega along with the Lumpkin County School System, the Lumpkin-Dahlonega Chamber of Commerce, Dahlonega Downtown Development Authority, the Chestatee Regional Library System, the Dahlonega Nugget, Dahlonega Jaycees, Dahlonega Lions Club, Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary, Dahlonega Woman’s Club, the Friends of Lumpkin Library, the Lumpkin County Library Board, Lumpkin Historical Society, Lumpkin Literacy, and the Lumpkin Retired Teachers Association.

A representative from each hosting organization makes up the Library Centennial Committee, which is chaired by Diane N. Bates and Nan Peters, both of the Friends of Lumpkin Library.

The Centennial ten-week celebration focuses on the ten decades of Lumpkin library service. Each participating organization plans to host an event or events during an assigned week. Those events will correspond with a specific decade. For example, the Dahlonega Woman’s Club plans to host a 1930’s luncheon during third week of the celebration.

Among the other activities planned during the celebration are children’s book readings; a historical timeline display; a 1917 – 2017 time capsule; a merchant door decorating contest; a book-themed scarecrow contest; an Adopt-A-Book campaign; poster, essay, and bookmark contests; and a Harry Potter event.

The Dahlonega Nugget officially kicks off the Centennial Celebration with a feature story on the library’s history, and nine weeks later, Saturday, November 4, the celebration ends with Lumpkin Library Day, a day of activities honoring Lumpkin’s library and its history.

A walking parade through downtown Dahlonega at 10 a.m. starts the Lumpkin Library Day festivities. “We’re asking children and adults to dress as their favorite storybook characters for the parade,” said Peters. “We’ll have a band, prizes and even some special storybook ‘celebrities’ in the parade.”

After the parade, state and local dignitaries will recognize the library for its impact on the county and people of Lumpkin. Then at 11:30 a.m., the party begins with a cake; free hot dogs and drinks provided by Dahlonega Rotary Club; a dozen local authors autographing books; centennial displays in the county administration building; and a number of children’s activities taking place in and around the library.

Elsa of the Disney’s Frozen book series, a Star Wars Storm Trooper, Harry Potter, Darren the DARE Lion, and the Chick-fil-Cow are among the special guests scheduled to appear at the parade or party.

“Everyone in Lumpkin is invited to Centennial Day,” said Bates. “This is a rare opportunity to commemorate our library and celebrate what makes Lumpkin a wonderful place to call home.”

For more information, please go to the Lumpkin Library Centennial’s Facebook page.