Search is on to get library funding for youth programs

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

A bid to expand the Peachtree City Library with a new addition for its children's activities has met with a little hurdle funding.

When the $1.6 million project was put on the fast track earlier this year, it was so the city could attempt to get state funds for the expansion. But that funding is in question since the state's library system has been moved from the supervision of the Department of Technical and Adult Education to the Board of Regents, said city Leisure Services Director Randy Gaddo.

To help drum up support for the project, the city is seeking help from local state legislators as the Georgia General Assembly prepares to begin its annual session in January.

A detailed packet has been sent to each local representative explaining what the library intends to do with the expanded facilities.

"We're trying to identify a source of funding that may exist even though it's not in the normal chain," Gaddo said. "We don't know if the Board of Regents will come up with money for construction or renovation."

Back when the library had its latest expansion, in 1994 and 1995, 90 percent of the cost was paid for with state funds, Gaddo noted. The city was hoping to get that kind of funding for this expansion, he added.

"We're bursting at the seams and not able to provide the children's service like we should be," Gaddo said.

Gaddo said a separate children's library will allow the library to hold more programs for kids without interfering with adults who use the library.

The new children's library would also give more room for the young adult and adult patrons to be serviced in the area that currently occupies the children's book section, Gaddo added. The plans are to use that space to spread out so extra seating particularly for students who are studying may be provided in the reference area and more stacks for books can be placed where the children's section is now, he said.

"We'll move all our children's services into the addition," Gaddo said, noting that the area would even have its own check-out station for library books.

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