Liberty County’s library board formed a committee Monday to press for progress on the delayed construction of a new Hinesville library.

Board Chairwoman LaFayne May said library officials were asked to be patient in 1998 and had done so, adding, “We’ve been patient long enough; we need to see some action.”

The three-member committee will follow up on a progress report the board received at its July quarterly meeting from County Administrator Joey Brown.

Brown said then that no specific timeline could be established for the new library, but that planning and construction could take two years. 

Regional Library Director Christian Kruse said library system officials had recent experience in building libraries and he thought the Hinesville project could be completed sooner.

The building committee, which will seek information from county officials, is composed of the Rev. Douglas Harn, Yvonne Woods and Barbara Stimmel.

One of their questions will be about the status of a request for proposals on the new library, which was to have gone out in August.

In other business, the library board welcomed a new member, Dr. Modibo Kadalie, representing Riceboro. Kadalie is a retired college professor and a former Riceboro city councilman.

Two board seats now are vacant, awaiting appointments by the Hinesville City Council and the Liberty County Commission.

Liberty County Library Coordinator Betsy Stow reported that she and her staff were coping with increased library usage while three positions were vacant. Library officials hope to fill at least one of the vacant jobs soon.

Quarterly statistical reports show that the Hinesville and Midway-Riceboro branches are bucking a system trend by recording increased visits.

Visits to the 14 library branches in Chatham County declined four percent, and Effingham’s two branches showed a decrease of 10 percent. With 50,915 visits, Liberty County’s two branches increased by 10 percent.

Stow announced that a writer’s group is forming at the Hinesville library with its first meeting this month. Author Richard Mansel is hosting the group.