Blog Layout

Foley Librarian Recognized For 45 Years Of Service

Guy Busby • April 6, 2024

Kathleen Parker Honored by Foley City Council

News in the Gulf Shores Alabama area

From her start as a librarian being paid 50 cents an hour, Kathleen Parker served the Foley Public Library for more than 45 years.


The City Council recognized Parker for her decades of service with a proclamation commemorating her work for the library and the citizens of Foley.


Parker served on the Foley Library Advisory Board from 1971 until she stepped down in 2024. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said Parker helped the library grow from a small building at the corner of McKenzie Street and Laurel Avenue to the current two-story facility that is now in the process of being replaced by a new larger center.


“That’s an incredible time for serving on anything, but on a library board. You helped build the one that’s over there and then oversaw an expansion. Now, you’ve seen laying the groundwork for yet another vision being fulfilled,” Hellmich said. “I can’t tell you how much the council appreciates the service that you’ve given to Foley.”


Parker said she was honored to help serve patrons over the years.


“It’s been a joy and a privilege,” she said. “I have loved every minute of it, the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s been all that, but it’s been, overall, outstanding and wonderful. The library will continue to grow and expand and mean so much to this entire area, especially to our young people. So, thank you for the privilege of serving these many years.”


Parker was a member of the Foley Civic League when that organization donated $1,000 to benefit the library in 1958.


That donation helped renovate the library at its former location, expanding a building constructed in the 1920s. That building is now the Foley Welcome Center.


In 1978, she was appointed head of the “new special Building Committee,” which laid the groundwork for the construction of a new building at the library’s current location. The library was later expanded with the addition of a second floor.


Library supporters and city officials are now working on plans to build a new library and community center near the Foley Dog Park. Construction on that facility is scheduled to start later in 2024.

Parker Foley Library
  • gulf shores news

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • news in gulf shores

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • port at zekes

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • saunders marine gulf shores

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • yabbas snack shack

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • freedom boat club orange beach

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • buzzcatz coffee

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Recent Posts

Gulf Shores Event News
By News Staff February 21, 2025
The Annual Fort Morgan Oyster Fest is set to take place this weekend, February 22nd & 23rd at The Beach Club Resort & Spa. The event features all-you-can-eat oysters, live music, craft vendors, and various activities for attendees; including a larger kids area. This year's festival features several improvements, including daily ticket caps to control crowds and prevent long lines.
Gulf Shores Police News
By Ken Cooper February 21, 2025
After 15 years of dedicated service, Gulf Shores Police Chief Ed Delmore has announced his retirement. Mayor Robert Craft informed the city council of Chief Delmore’s intent during a meeting this week. While he will no longer be heading the police department, Chief Delmore will stay on the force as a special investigator until the end of his term, which ends in November.
Gulf Shores Tax News
By News Staff February 20, 2025
Alabama's 14th annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is set for Friday, February 21, through Sunday, February 23, 2025. During this period, residents can purchase essential severe weather preparedness items without paying the state's 4% sales tax. In some areas, local taxes will also be waived, allowing shoppers to save up to 10% on eligible items.
Show More
Share by: