The Liberty County Library Board got good news this week, both on a replacement for the Hinesville library on Memorial Drive and on the relocation of the Midway/Riceboro branch.
Regional Library Director Christian Kruse reported on Liberty Day at the General Assembly, where he said County Administrator Joey Brown "spoke so eloquently and effectively, explaining the need for a new library."
Brown said state money for libraries is limited, and the local communities must do their part.
In Hinesville, this has been done by the purchase of the NAPA store near the present library as a site for a new facility. Some form of bond financing is also being considered.
Brown also reported the possibility that the maximum state contribution to library construction might be increased from $2 million to $4 million. He said four legislators had attended Liberty Day and each had been asked for strong support for the library.
The Midway/Riceboro Branch library may get an unexpected boost from the Midcoast Regional Airport at WAAF. The airport will soon be issuing bonds to cover its long-term financing and some funds for the new branch library at the Midway Civic Center may be piggybacked onto that.
There would be some savings in the legal, financing and other costs of the bond issue, Kruse said, if a single transaction could cover the two projects.
The branch library is now housed in a small, former voting precinct building in Midway.
It is scheduled to move into the former Liberty Elementary School on Highway 84 that houses the Midway City Hall and a Liberty County Sheriff's Department substation. Recreation and other community services are also expected to go into the old LES site.
The library board also discussed plans for its annual spring thank you reception honoring public officials who support and fund the library.
Emphasis will be on attendance for this year's event. Last year Commissioner Connie Thrift was the only official to show up.
Regional Library Director Christian Kruse reported on Liberty Day at the General Assembly, where he said County Administrator Joey Brown "spoke so eloquently and effectively, explaining the need for a new library."
Brown said state money for libraries is limited, and the local communities must do their part.
In Hinesville, this has been done by the purchase of the NAPA store near the present library as a site for a new facility. Some form of bond financing is also being considered.
Brown also reported the possibility that the maximum state contribution to library construction might be increased from $2 million to $4 million. He said four legislators had attended Liberty Day and each had been asked for strong support for the library.
The Midway/Riceboro Branch library may get an unexpected boost from the Midcoast Regional Airport at WAAF. The airport will soon be issuing bonds to cover its long-term financing and some funds for the new branch library at the Midway Civic Center may be piggybacked onto that.
There would be some savings in the legal, financing and other costs of the bond issue, Kruse said, if a single transaction could cover the two projects.
The branch library is now housed in a small, former voting precinct building in Midway.
It is scheduled to move into the former Liberty Elementary School on Highway 84 that houses the Midway City Hall and a Liberty County Sheriff's Department substation. Recreation and other community services are also expected to go into the old LES site.
The library board also discussed plans for its annual spring thank you reception honoring public officials who support and fund the library.
Emphasis will be on attendance for this year's event. Last year Commissioner Connie Thrift was the only official to show up.