Thomas B. Norton Public Library ~ Located in beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama

The Friends of the Library Club was officially organized in August 1972. No dues were required. Later, members paid dues of $5.00 - if they wished. Still later, annual dues of $5.00 were required. In 2000, the annual dues were raised to $10.00.

Prior to the formation of the Friends, during the years of 1953-1971, members of the Gulf Shores Women's Club worked diligently to get a library of "some sort, one way or another". They started out small, with a "swap of books" program. Books were donated. This group of women was the nucleus of the Friends.

By 1964, Gulf Shores qualified for $1,000 of Baldwin County Library funds. In 1965, the Gulf Shores Library opened with 300 books.

For years, the Friends prepared and sold turkey dinners to raise money for the Library. The money was used to purchase books, shelves, clocks and special materials. Different fund-raising projects progressed from turkey dinners to the 1990/91 annual Dessert / Card Party Raffle Project. This project has been very successful, netting several thousand dollars per year. All funds from the annual book sale are still used to buy "books, shelves, clocks and special materials."

Written by Evelyn Hartlein