In 2015, Bruton Memorial Library’s Director of Library Services Tonda Morris announced that the library would be converting an open area to a reading/conference room.
At a volunteer breakfast in January, the new name for the library was revealed: the Marion Cook “Cookie” Smith Reading/Conference Room.
On Thursday, June 30, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the finished room at the library. The room improvements, totaled at $50,000, include the addition of a glass wall and new, lightweight furniture.
Cookie Smith has been a volunteer at the library since 1966, and was named the library’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year. Before the afternoon’s ribbon cutting, Smith spent the morning volunteering at the library.
Dozens came out to the ribbon cutting, including City Manager Mike Herr, Vice Mayor Bill Dodson and City Commissioners Mike Sparkman and Nate Kilton.
Smith also was joined by her husband, Mac and daughters, Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce President Marion Smith and Debbie Petrina.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.