Library Board deals with rising costs

The board of the Olney Community Library & Arts Center faced a tightening budget and considered new concerns about security and code upgrades to the building, as well as upcoming fundraisers at its Aug. 16 meeting.

The board approved the library’s fiscal year 2023 budget, noting that all its programs, including the children’s library programs had been slashed to compensate for rising utility and insurance costs. The board also heard from OCLAC director Lori Cox that the facility would be included in a security assessment of the Olney Independent School District campuses at no cost, but it would have to implement any security-related changes out of its own budget.

The library has been trying to upgrade its public restrooms since before COVID-related supply chain issues sent the budget for the project skyrocketing. The library is counting on a few fundraisers, including the Sept. 8 Texoma Gives day of online giving and its Dancing Stars of Olney dance contest and fundraiser on Sept. 28 at the Main Room to shore up its finances. Ms. Cox said she secured five corporate teams to dance in the fundraiser and will open the contest to the public to find two or three more entrants.

The library also received carrels – and soon will receive two brandnew computers – from the Texas Workforce Commission to help people with job searches. “They will be loaded with training materials and different help for resumes and things like that to do with job searches,” Ms. Cox said.