The Conway Library can boost their book collections and give kids more hands-on experiences, all thanks to half of a $9 million library donation.
“I had read about those types of situations before and always thought, oh let it be me, never thinking that it would ever happen,” said Cindy Thornley, the Director of Libraries for the Horry County Memorial Library system. “So, this is really, it is an amazing opportunity for the community.”
When Phil Thompson handed Cindy Thornley a $4.4 million check on Thursday, she knew it’d be a great investment for the Conway Library, and not just for the books.
“Whether it’s trying out circuitry, or 3D printers or 3D pens, which are really, we’ve found to be really fun,” she said. “And, so, our, my staff have been actually trying out the different kits, and they are now, we’re putting everything back together, new batteries and all the things that need batteries, and soon, the kids will be able to do it, to do it themselves.”
Thornley says the library plans to focus the funds on the five literacy themes of the library system, print and early literacy, digital literacy, health and culinary, business and finance literacy, and English language learners.
Phil’s uncle and aunt, John and Barbara Thompson, left $9 million to the Conway Library under the Horry County Memorial Library system and the Coastal Carolina University Library, after they died in 2016.
Thornley says John was a lawyer with several degrees and Barbara was a teacher, so they had an interest in education.
“That’s what libraries do,” she said. “We are education and make those types of opportunities available to everyone without any hindrance.”
The library has also discussed creating a sound recording lab and a digital media lab that will allow kids to edit and 3D print.
The Thompsons are also connected to the library system because in 1946, John’s father, Frank Thompson, was made an honorary lifetime member of the Horry County Memorial Library.
