When his recommendations were released earlier this month there were no capital funds for library construction projects for this year, according to Kathryn Ames, director of the Athens Regional Library System, which includes Madison County.
“This is the first time in many years that no projects were recommended,” Ames said.
The library’s board of trustees, Friends group and staff members have made plans over the last five years to expand the library building’s square footage from its current 10,000 square feet to an estimated 17,500 square feet. Two of the key upgrades would be additional staff working space and larger private study rooms that could be utilized by literacy action programs, library Board of Trustee chairman Mike Moak said.
In addition, county voters have already allocated $582,800 in SPLOST (Special Local Option Sales Tax) funds for the project and $1,517,200 is expected from state funding to complete the project, Moak noted. State construction plans for libraries moved the library to fourth on the list this year, up from 18th place last year
According to Board of Trustee member George Nale, the state legislature typically allocates funds to approximately 10 library projects per year.
“We expected there could be a reduction in the number of projects funded during the budget crisis, but we didn’t think (construction) funding would be eliminated entirely,” Nale said.
“We have the local funding available, we have the building programs done and approved, we have architects and we have some initial design,” Ames said.
Ames stresses that the library has been heavily used by the community, particularly in the current economic situation. “This project is ready to get started when state funds are added to match local funding efforts,” Ames said.
Branch manager Suzie DeGrasse said circulation has increased 26 percent since 2006 and patrons have increased by 47 percent in the same time period.
“The library leads to literacy and social interaction in a community,” Friends of the Madison County Library vice-president Victor Johnson said. “It also helps prevent crime and provides a place for children to go where they can learn and interact with each other.”
“Many people also do their job hunting at the library through the use of free public computers,” Johnson added. “Over one percent (330 people) of the county’s population uses the library’s services each day – that’s a lot.”
Library officials also point out that construction projects in a community provide jobs, an important point with today’s high unemployment rate.
“The Trustees of the library are not blind to the state of the economy and every day we make every effort to manage the operating costs at the library,” Chairman Moak said. “But current times have shown us that the community depends on the library resources now more than ever.”
Moak added that the current library is far behind in the space needed to serve the local community. The planned expansion should serve projected population numbers through 2020, he noted.
Library officials are asking county residents to e-mail and write their local legislators to let them know what their local library means to them and how its expansion would help the community.
