Checking out the library

A library fundraising committee invited guests to hear their dream for how a new facility could serve many residents – while emphasizing to potential supporters that the need is indeed real.

The Oct. 28 gathering at the Cleveland branch of the White County Public Library brought guests inside to tour the four-decade-old building. They were shown its cramped office spaces and limited storage, while learning more about the challenges and opportunities involved with constructing a modern library able to serve the growing community.

Other examples pointed out include dated bathroom facilities and out-of-service computers stacked on boxes that are sitting on tables – in what should be area for library users – as a last resort for storage.

“The White County library has served us all very well for the past 40 years, but as you can see, it’s time for a change,” said Nadine Wardenga, as a spokesperson for the fundraising committee.

“We want to build something that will be for the next 30-40 years.”

The Cleveland library is 6,000 square feet. Based on the county population projections for 2030 and state standards, the suggested size for a new building is just under 23,000 square feet, though plans could aim for 20,000 to fit budget limits, according to the group. That figure takes into consideration the 4,000-square-foot Helen library branch that will remain.

Some of the features on the wish list for a new library includes adequate space to grow, a large children’s area with a separate activity room, study rooms, computer labs, larger employee work areas and a breakroom, as well as a community meeting room.

The process is still early. Though there have been past talks with the Cleveland and White County governments, no site for a potential library has been chosen. Wardenga refers to design plans for a recently constructed library in Dahlonega as a general concept of what could be.

While there’s plenty of talk about future hopes,  Wardenga emphasizes how the library is far more than books to its thousands of patrons. There are eBooks, free access to educational and recreational opportunities, a popular children’s reading program and story hour and more. Along with the library’s own public computers, Wardenga says it is common to see cars in the parking lot after hours using the library’s free Wifi access for adults and school-aged children who may not have internet service at home.

“If you think a library is a thing of the past, you just need to just show up any day of the week and see what happens at that counter,” Wardenga said.

“The library is a place where you can be 3 years old or 103 and go, and there’s something for everybody.”

But for anything to come of plans for a new library, there needs to be buy-in from the community. Wardenga said the committee wants to impress upon others the importance of a new library as they aim to raise around $150,000 in seed money to show local governments the support for such a project. That’s because the city and county will be needed to provided the rest of the local matching funds to secure additional state dollars for construction.

There’s an opportunity to secure $2 million in matching funds through the state of Georgia, said Delana Knight, director of the Northeast Georgia Regional Library System. Based on the formula, it would take about $1.1 million in local matching funds to get the full $2 million from the state.

“We do need to show that we have a desire in our community, and we do have the need,” Knight said.

Wardenga said as the fundraising committee continues its efforts, there are plans to offer room naming opportunities for major gifts. However, any donation – from $5 to $1 million – is welcome.

“We’re talking about White County’s future,” Wardenga said. “We want to have something to build on, and a library is a good place to start.”

• Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to White County Public Library – Cleveland P.O. Box 657 Cleveland, Georgia 30528.