Dade library officials wait on funding

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Bryant, Ala., resident Tasha Elliott drives about 15 minutes across the state line into Dade County once a week to use the public library’s computers. Tuesday, like many days, she waited nearly an hour for her turn.

“I think they do need a couple more computers,” she said. “Especially right now with the economy, not everybody can afford to go out and buy books or get online.”

Gov. Sonny Perdue and the Georgia General Assembly recently approved $675,000 to improve the Dade County Library, which is one branch of the Cherokee Regional Library System. The money can be used to purchase computers, expand education programs and revamp the building, which was built in 1989.

But those improvements hinge on collections from special purpose local option sales tax, SPLOST. Dade County residents approved funding for the library renovations in a 2004 SPLOST vote, but the library improvements weren’t high priority projects. County Executive Ted Rumley said.

The 1-percent sales tax is approved by voters to fund capital projects, but as the economy slows, collections tend to dwindle.

“If the money is there, they will get it,” he said. “But in the past year (collections have) not been as predicted.”

In neighboring Walker County, the LaFayette library will be expanded with $2 million in SPLOST funds and $2 million from the state.

Library system Director Lecia Eubanks said Dade’s entire building needs to be gutted. Librarians need more computers, an expanded genealogy room, private study rooms and more room in the children’s area, she said.

Gayla Brewer, community development librarian with the Cherokee Regional Library, said the library’s resources are valuable to area residents, many of whom do not have access to computers or other research tools at home.

“We constantly have people waiting (for computers),” she said Tuesday. “Our computers are very slow and we need to replace the ones we’ve got. There are a lot of displaced workers looking for jobs, people waiting to submit applications or resumes.”

Mrs. Eubanks said the minimum needed to pay for the upgrades is $163,333, although more is needed to do the project justice. Without local funds, the state money will go to waste, she said.

“I have kind of been just patiently waiting to see if collections go up,” she said.

Mrs. Elliott said she doesn’t know what she would do without the library.

“I just hope they get the funding they need,” she said.