Lanier Library Association

The Lanier is the oldest civic organization in continuous operation in Polk County. Besides circulating books, the library engages nationally known speakers for its annual meeting, brings regionally known authors and lecturers to its monthly brown-bag lunch programs, and provides time and space for discussions.

The charming atmosphere of the Lanier reflects in its beautifully landscaped exterior and cozy reading rooms. The wide range of reading materials includes one of the best fiction collections in the area. Children like Newbery and Caldecott award winners. Oldsters appreciate large-print editions. Everyone enjoys Academy-award-winning videos, music and book recordings. The fireplace and comfortable chairs invite magazine browsing. Works in the Forbes Business Collection aid financial decisions. A display case showcases collections loaned by members.

Other special collections include Sidney Lanier's poems donated by his wife and works by more recent local authors and artists. The combination of old and new is extraordinary here. There's a well-maintained card catalog and, nearby, a DSL-powered computer for Internet access — something for everybody.

The Lanier Library Association is one of only eighteen subscription libraries in the United Sates. The library boasts more than 600 members and more than twice that number of users. New members and volunteers are always welcome.

The association is a nonprofit organization, supported by annual dues and donations. Dues are $18.00 per year. Family membership extends to a spouse and all children under nineteen who live in the household. If a member contributes more than $500 in any year, he or she becomes a life member and exempt from dues. Students may join for $4.50 per year and complimentary membership is offered to teachers in the Polk County and Landrum school districts.

Come join a group who, from the nineteenth century into the twenty-first century, continues to bring the best in literature and culture to our community.