Olney Community Library & Arts Center
Olney Community Library has had a difficult but blessed 2022. Financially, the library has struggled in 2022, but in the last quarter of the year, things began to look up. We are, by no means, out of the woods financially, but we are sitting better than we have been in many months.
While we are both a school and a public library, the school takes care of the salaries, supplies, and books for the elementary, junior high, and high school. Public money takes care of insurance, public books, supplies and special programming, utilities, updates, and repairs to the building, etc. Our insurance costs have more than doubled in the last several years so it takes well over half of our public budget to pay it. Because of that cost and the rising cost of building supplies, repairs to the building and the renovation of the restroom facilities have been put on hold so that we (the library board) can be more responsible with our funds. The money that has been donated for this renovation has been put in a CD and is drawing interest and is untouchable for now.
Early in 2022, The Priddy Foundation in Wichita Falls approached the library with a fantastic grant opportunity for new technology for the library. We applied for and received a $107,000 grant for new technology. We received 15 new security cameras, five televisions, nine computer desks, 11 desktop computers, two laptops, three printers, Microsoft Office software, computer protection software, a stand-alone device charger, an OWL Labs Meeting Pro, and a Virtual Reality headset and system. We are appreciative of this grant and excited about using this wonderful new technology in the future.
Workforce Solution North Texas brought in a printer, two computers and desks, and helpful job training software for our patrons who need help training and looking for jobs.
In September of this year, the library was blessed by two fundraisers – Texoma Gives and our Dancing Stars of Olney dinner and dance contest. Between these two fundraisers, the library received just over $20,000. Only part of the money was put into the operating fund and the rest was put into our special account to draw interest.
At the end of September, we were also extremely blessed to find out that Young County had chosen us to receive the “County Capital Credits” amount of $63,207 to be used for the “encouragement, promotion, improvement and application of the arts and comprehensive literacy” for the benefit of our patrons.
We are in the process of looking for and developing new programs in the coming year to benefit our patrons with this money. First on the list is a Digital Literacy class for adult patrons. This class will be beneficial for patrons who need training on email, Microsoft Word documents, searching the internet safely, or those that need a general overview of how to use the computer for their enjoyment. This class will begin in early 2023. A popular musician/storyteller will be coming back to visit the Library in March.
Returning children’s programming will benefit from the new literacy/art funds as well. In January, we will begin another session of Babygarten with a new teacher and revamped curriculum. Contact the Library if you and your child want to be added to the list. Space is limited. We are also bringing back the program formally known as Reading Is Fundamental where we give students their own books to take home at the end of the school year. Of course, we cannot ignore our Summer Reading programs – storytellers will be back for another summer of fun.
We are looking forward to an exciting 2023 at Olney Community Library and hope you will join us for our new programming and fun classes that are on the horizon. Stay tuned to the Library’s Facebook page for all the news for 2023.