Preparing for possibilities

By REBECCA CANFIELD

Nestled up against Liberty Hill’s sculpture garden, and alongside the fire station, the Liberty Hill Public Library is an absolute beehive of activity. Ever growing in its reach, the library is reaching out to meet the needs of the community and in the process the facility is, quite literally, busting at the seams. With circulation almost doubling last year, more and more people are using the library every day. However, funds for a library expansion have not kept up with the public’s demand for services.

“We need to expand. We want to expand. It’s finding the funds to expand, because it’s about $2-$3 million by the time we get it done,” said Director Angela Palmer.

Because Liberty Hill’s library is a special purpose district, not a municipal library, the library itself is funded through sales tax, Palmer explained. Currently, the library receives ¼ of 1% of sales tax revenue within the district, with the district being identical to the boundaries for Liberty Hill ISD. Yet, business growth in Liberty Hill has not kept up with the increasing population, a fact that makes library expansion difficult. However, renovations to the current building might just be in the works this year. Palmer stated that the library applied for a $40,000 grant with the Hancher Foundation, but she doesn’t want to make too many plans until she knows for sure that the library will be getting those funds.

Even so, Palmer says the renovations will cost closer to $70,000. Because of this, the library plans to set up a Go Fund Me page in an attempt to cover some extra expenses. The renovations would include things like new paint, new lighting, a new ceiling, more resilient flooring, drywall and new furniture. Currently, Palmer is working with a local designer to get ideas on how to maximize the library’s space, and hopefully make room for additional shelving, among other things. The library, which hasn’t been renovated since its opening 11 years ago, needs to do everything it can to maximize space while it is awaiting funds for an expansion.

Palmer also stated that although the greater need of a new building is currently on hold, there are still many things the community can do to assist the local library. One thing the library needs, according to Palmer, is a group of friends to assist in fund-raising efforts. Additionally, the library is also in need of volunteers as well. However, for patrons who are unable to help with either of those, there are still many other ways to help.

The library currently has a wish list which can help patrons who want to buy items the library is in need of such as Disney Movies or a new set of Little House on the Prairie books, for example. Patrons can also donate a book in someone’s honor. A memory plate would be placed inside the book’s cover with a short message in it. One patron donated funds for several non-fiction books, honoring a loved-one who has passed on, but who had a great love for reading non-fiction literature, Palmer explained.

Still, Palmer is quick to point out that a monetary donation can often go further than a new book donation because libraries get discounts on book purchases, which means that Palmer can buy the same book at a heavily discounted rate. Palmer also said the library would happily accept assistance with beautifying the lawn in front of the library or making a garden, stating that it might make a good project for a Boy Scout, Girl Scout or 4H program and would give the library some curb appeal.

“Basically, if someone wants to help the library, we will find a way for you to help,” she said.

Yet, the reason the library is seeking help is to further their mission, which is to enrich lives through information, education, and recreation.

“It’s their library. I just manage it, but it’s their library,” Palmer explained. “We try to be responsive to what people need.”

Currently, the library has around 19,200 books, DVDs and audio books, in addition to their collection of over 6,000 ebooks and audiobooks downloads available through their membership with One Drive Consortium.

Additionally, Palmer says that many areas of Liberty Hill still don’t have internet service available, which makes the library’s WIFI and computers a much needed resource for folks applying for jobs or doing other various types of online research. There are also many databases for people to use, as well. Palmer also said that library staff doesn’t mind teaching people how to use the databases and various resources available at the library.

Yet Palmer says one of her favorite things to do at the library is answer questions, help with research or make suggestions to patrons looking for new things to read.

“I’m always here for them to ask reference questions,” she said. “That’s my favorite part of my job. If someone says, ‘I like to read Vince Flynn, what’s another book I can read?’ or Susan Lou Phillips, or ‘What can I get my child to read, what are some ideas?’ We can provide all of that information.”

However, Palmer said that she still has issues from time to time with people who avoid the library because they think you need to be smart to use it.

“A lot of people still think libraries are for smart people. Libraries are for everybody! You don’t have to read great works of literature. I read romance novels.”

Palmer also explains that everyone is smart in one way or another. Everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses, and regardless of what those strengths and weaknesses are, the library staff is there to help.

In spite of the library’s increasing need, there is a silver lining to the library’s financial cloud because it means that the library is successful. One of the recent successes the library is proud of is its summer reading program. This summer, children read for more than 311,000 minutes, which is a huge increase from previous years. According to Palmer, there were 797 children who participated in the summer reading program this year, and almost 15,000 visitors to the library over the course of summer vacation.

“Those numbers are record breaking,” she said. “We did 144 programs during summer reading this year!”

Palmer says none of these successes would have been possible without the excellence of her staff members and volunteers.

“We have excellent customer service and we excel at making the library feel like a warm and welcoming place for everyone,” stated Palmer. “The staff is really dedicated to their work and it shows by how much they care and invest in the library.”want to make too many plans until she knows for sure that the library will be getting those funds.

Even so, Palmer says the renovations will cost closer to $70,000. Because of this, the library plans to set up a Go Fund Me page in an attempt to cover some extra expenses. The renovations would include things like new paint, new lighting, a new ceiling, more resilient flooring, drywall and new furniture. Currently, Palmer is working with a local designer to get ideas on how to maximize the library’s space, and hopefully make room for additional shelving, among other things. The library, which hasn’t been renovated since its opening 11 years ago, needs to do everything it can to maximize space while it is awaiting funds for an expansion.