Governor, Legislature approve funds for 18 libraries
GPLS News, June 2009
An artist's rendering of the new Lee County library
On May 13, Gov. Sonny Perdue officially signed the state of Georgia's $18.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2010. In addition to the 11 new library projects that the governor included in his original capital outlay recommendations in January, the approved budget includes seven more critical library design and construction projects added by the Legislature in recognition of the increasingly critical importance of public libraries during tough economic times.
"Cutting the budget has forced a number of difficult decisions, but we have managed the state in a thoughtful, conservative way to ensure Georgians are receiving value for their tax dollars," said Gov. Perdue.
"Georgia's public libraries are deeply appreciative to the governor and to the Legislature for the state matching funding for these 18 library construction projects," said State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch. "We are gratified that the state's leadership recognizes the continued importance of public libraries as vital educational and informational resources in our communities. Our capital construction program, which combines state and local funding, continues to be a great model of cooperation."
Among the seven additional library projects is a new $5 million central library for Lee County, which has not had a state construction project since 1994. Tentatively called the Oakland Library, the 19,500-square-foot facility will be built in Leesburg and will serve as the county's central library and as system headquarters for its three branches. The Lee County system long ago outgrew its current facility, which was designed to serve as a branch of the nearby Kinchafoonee Regional Library System. The state will contribute $2 million toward the project's total cost. An additional $3 million will come from local funds.
"This is certainly an exciting time for Lee County," said Eddie Hinman, chairman of the Lee County Library board of trustees. "The new library will offer much-needed space for enhanced library service as well as needed meeting space for community gatherings and conferences. State and local officials are proving that they are looking forward to a brighter and more prosperous future for Lee County and the entire state of Georgia in their support of these 18 library building projects."
Claire Leavy, director of the Lee County Library System, agrees. "Much appreciation goes to the officials who support and encourage public library use in our state," she said. "Their vision for public libraries, coupled with the economic impact of these 18 new projects, will certainly make Georgia a shining example for the rest of the nation."
The other new library projects, their total costs and the value of their state shares are as follows:
- an addition to the Piedmont Regional Library System's Commerce Public Library in Jackson County ($2,098,036 total; $1,515,000 state, $583,036 local);
- an addition to the Cherokee Regional Library System's Dade County Library in Trenton ($838,333 total; $675,000 state, $163,333 local);
- an addition to and renovation of the Uncle Remus Regional Library System's Greene County Library in Greensboro ($2,815,050 total; $1,810,000 state, $1,005,050 local);
- an addition to and renovation of the West Georgia Regional Library System's Warren P. Sewell Memorial Library ($1,857,000 total; $1,355,000 state, $502,000 local) and an addition to and renovation of its Tallapoosa Public Library ($442,857 total; $400,000 state, $42,857 local), both in Haralson County; and
- an addition to the Mountain Regional Library System's Union County Public Library in Blairsville ($2,530,357 total; $1,665,000 state, $865,357 local).
The 11 original projects recommended by the governor and also now approved are:
- an addition to the Sara Hightower Regional Library System's Rockmart Library in Polk County ($2,669,750 total; $1,895,000 state, $774,750 local);
- a new Central Library Annex for the DeKalb County Library System in Decatur ($8,002,857 total; $2 million state, $6,002,857 local);
- a new Northeast Branch for the Sequoyah Regional Library System in Cherokee County ($5,616,857 total; $2 million state, $3,616,857 local) and an addition to its R. T. Jones Memorial Library in Canton ($1,402,007 total; $1,050,000 state, $352,007 local);
- an addition to the Athens Regional Library System's Athens-Clarke County Library ($10,215,240 total; $2 million state, $8,215,240 local);
- an addition to the Three Rivers Regional Library System's St. Marys Public Library in Camden County ($1,116,683 total; $860,000 state, $256,683 local);
- the Uncle Remus Regional Library System's new Walnut Grove Library in Walton County ($1,700,000 total; $1,250,000 state, $450,000 local) and an addition to its Morgan County Library in Madison ($2,825,147 total; $2 million state, $825,147 local);
- the Satilla Regional Library System's new Jeff Davis County Library in Hazelhurst ($3,145,000 total; $1,145,00 state, $2 million local);
- an addition to the Thomas County Library System's Thomasville Library ($3.3 million total; $2 million state, $1.3 million local); and
- a new Forest Park Library for the Clayton County Library System ($4,571,429 total; $2 million state, $2,571,429 local).
"We are very excited about the funding our system's construction projects," said Jeff Tomlinson, director of the Uncle Remus Regional Library System. "Both communities have experienced large population growth, and the demand for materials and services there has exceeded our current spaces. Given that tough economics creates a high demand for library services, these building projects will allow us to serve our communities in ways that we just aren't able to do with our current building constraints. We feel fortunate that both the state and our local communities support this construction effort."