The coming year looks bright in terms of new construction and programs in the Florence County Library System, but the downside likely will come in the form of deeper state aid cuts.
Among the positive upcoming developments will be construction of the new Olanta and Timmonsville branch libraries.
“It’s just the right time for these branches and the right group of people to make these (new libraries) work and add value to these communities” during tough economic times, library system director Ray McBride said.
The public, however, should expect to see fewer new books, CDs, DVDs and magazines because of funding cuts to all libraries across the state, McBride said.
During the past six months, the library system has lost $84,000 of its $283,000 in state aid for new books and other materials, said McBride, who expects an additional 10 percent cut soon.
Nonetheless, the library hopes to compensate for that shortfall with fundraisers held by the Friends of the Florence County Library as well as donations from the public, McBride said.
“These cuts, at this point, are manageable for us,” he said.
McBride also pointed out that like-new materials donated to the nonprofit Friends group are tax-deductible.
In addition, the Friends groups for the branch libraries are raising money to expand collections at the new branch library buildings, which will have more space for more materials, McBride said.
Bids arrived last week for construction of the new Olanta and Timmonsville libraries, which could begin in February, McBride said.
The county has an apparent low bidder and has received an architect’s recommendation that the bid appears to be compliant, but council has taken no action yet, Florence County Administrator Richard Starks said.
The libraries are expected to cost between $2 million and $2.2 million apiece.
McBride said he hopes the libraries, and possibly a new Johnsonville branch library, will open in 2010.
The county has bought land for a new Johnsonville library, which has received $550,000 from the state Legislature and another $500,000 during the county’s refinancing of outstanding bonds.
The library system also has applied for a grant to buy software that will equip Florence County’s six libraries as OneStop Centers, where people can search for jobs, McBride said. The International City/County Management Association will announce in February whether the county’s libraries will receive the $51,000 grant, he said.
Starting Jan. 26, the traveling exhibition “Visions of the Universe,” developed in cooperation with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, will pay a 10-week visit to Florence’s Drs. Bruce & Lee Library — the only library in the Carolinas to hold the exhibition, McBride said.
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