After
the fire a new library was started during the church rebuilding and remodeling.
It soon outgrew its original room and had to be moved to larger quarters.
It has continued to grow over the years under different librarians.Hardins Chapel Church Libraries
The first church library was the result of the donation of books from the estate of Rev. White, who was pastor there in the 1950's. This served until the books were damaged beyond use during the church fire of 1979.
After
the fire a new library was started during the church rebuilding and remodeling.
It soon outgrew its original room and had to be moved to larger quarters.
It has continued to grow over the years under different librarians.
Today there are two
main libraries set up in three different rooms. The main library is the
Naomi Johnson Adult Library. Naomi Johnson
(1900-1984) was a lifelong member of Hardins Chapel, as were generations of her
family before and since. She was a school teacher and principal at
Kidwells School and known by everyone in the community. She was active in
the church and held various offices during her life, beginning as Sunday
School secretary in 1917. She took a keen interest in the rebuilding of
the church and the church library and donated generously to both. Upon her
death she left her personal library to the church to supplement the growing
library.
The
Adult library consists of the
books in the main library as well as a shelf of extra and overflow books in the
adjacent copy room.
The Adult library also consists of a number of DVD and VHS movies, sermons and small group lessons as well as some cassette tape of the Bible. There are also some DVD and VHS movies for the children in the children's library.
The other main library is the Powell Johnson Children's Library, which is located in the room of the original library. Powell Johnson (1930-2000), was a first cousin of Naomi and was also a lifelong member of Hardins Chapel. He held probably every office in the church except for pastor several times over during his life. He was a clever and witty man with a mischevious twinkle and a soft spot for all children, especially his own. After his death his family funding the renovation of the small room into a children's library in his memory. The story of the dedication service of the library, as told through a book passed down from Naomi Johnson's mother to the church library until being replaced with a new copy by Powell's granddaughter, can be found here.
Additional Library Information
Current .pdf Map of the Church Libraries
Latest major additions to various libraries (04/09/10).
Current simplified Dewey Decimal System used by the library
Library Contents (badly outdated and in need of update)
Powell Johnson Children's Library
