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Mid-summer funding boost helps libraries
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After budget cuts led the Liberty County school district to eliminate its financial support for the area’s library branches, library officials responded to the shortfall by reducing hours for Hinesville and Midway-Riceboro locations and by cutting the collections budget. However, a mid-summer boost from the Liberty County Board of Commissioners will help the Hinesville library extend its hours again after Labor Day.
Christian Kruse, director of Live Oak Public Libraries, said the $160,000 funding cut meant reducing hours at the Hinesville branch from 70 hours a week to 60 hours and taking the Midway/Riceboro branch from 30 hours a week to 25 hours.  
“Our collections budget was also reduced from $90,000 to $50,000. This means that fewer books will be purchased and it will take longer to get a popular or bestseller title,” Kruse said.
“Both of these actions began July 1,” he said. “In mid-July we were notified that Liberty County had increased our funding by $76,000. We have requested additional funding from the city of Hinesville but will not know the outcome until late September or early October.”
The reduced hours did generate some complaints from patrons, Kruse said, particularly as Sunday hours were eliminated in Hinesville. However, he said, “We anticipate having the same, or greater, [patron] circulation this year, even with reduced hours.”
With the increase in funding from county commissioners, the library system now will be able to expand operating hours at the Hinesville branch beginning Sept. 7. Midway’s hours will remain the same.
Additionally, Kruse said, “this gives us an opportunity to fill a position that was left vacant after the budget cuts. We will also be adding some money back to the collections budget.”
Public libraries statewide are feeling the economic pinch. System cuts were included in the fiscal year 2010 state budget recommendation submitted by Gov. Sonny Perdue. A Georgia Public Library Service statement released in June said the state’s public libraries maintained state-level funding for fiscal year 2011, avoiding further painful reductions to already-strained budgets.
“The total state funding of $35,051,419 includes a small increase reflecting the state’s population formula,” said Julie Walker, deputy state librarian.
“Libraries and GPLS will still struggle to sustain operating hours and services with budgets that are at least 20 percent below two years ago,” Walker said. “But we feel fortunate to have escaped additional budget reductions, and we are grateful to our legislators for recognizing the increasingly essential roles that public libraries play in communities across Georgia.”
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BI hosts LCSS Gala
LibertyCountySchools

Bradwell Institute’s Friends Helping Friends will host the 3rdAnnual Liberty County School System Special Needs Gala Saturday at 7p.m.

The dance portion of the gala is free and open to the public.

FHF was started three years ago by BI special needs teacher Charlie Moon. FHF is comprised of a large group of general education students that connect special needs students with their general education peers. They have raised $20,000 in the last 30 months, for events like this, a new sensory room, music therapy equipment, and many other fun events. 

“FHF does so much for the special needs students. It really brings them out in their social skills. They become so much more comfortable around us all,” FHF Junior Danielle Hennessee said. 

FHF Junior Jada Naftzinger said it’s a two-way street. “It not only helps them, but us as well. It brings us out of our own shells and comfort zones.” 

Moon added, “For us, the Gala is not our calling card. I’ve told the students from day one, unless they truly know these special needs students, we won’t do the Gala at all. We’ll throw a big pizza party instead. The point is, we want the kids to really focus on the one-on-one, in-class work, hanging out in the halls, really talking to them. That’s the only way this program truly reaches its potential. Our motto is, “Changing lives, one friend at a time.”

During a private dinner which precedes the public dance, district office personnel, representatives from Congressman Buddy Carter’s office, district SPED staff, BI Football players and FHF members, parents and the honored guests – 50 special needs students from around the district will be in attendance.

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