Celebration planning in full swing at FC Library
Plans are beginning to take shape for the Forrest City Public Library’s 100th year celebration.
Members of the library’s board on Monday met to discuss the event and to hear from employees about the planning process.
Sheila Gracey, children and youth services coordinator, told board members they would like residents to share photos and memories of the library with them to include in the celebration. "Especially the older photographs. We can scan them right here and everything," she said.
Gracey said a few people had shared memories and photos so far, including one person who brought in dolls made by Annie B. Proctor, one of the original librarians.
"She would decorate the library with the dolls and golden ornaments during the holiday," Gracey shared with the board. "This lady had seven of the dolls and we still have a few in our Arkansas Room."
"She'd also give each kid a birthday card on their birthday," Gracey continued. "If they were turning nine, the birthday card would have a 9 on the front. It was a really nice memory shared with us."
Gracey also told the board that the library has three events in the early planning stages, starting with an open house.
"We want people to be able to come in, walk through and look at everything," said Gracey.
Two of the events being planned are for children.
"We are planning something with Arkansas PBS Kids in May and want to do one more event for the kids," said Gracey. "Something with food, outside, kind of like a carnival. If anyone has any connections for food donations and the like, please let us know."
In other business, library director Arlisa Harris told the board the VITA tax program would begin soon. "We are doing things a little different this year," she said.
Those making under $57,000 are eligible for the VITA program.
"They will drop their taxes off and our volunteers will work on them over the following few days before calling them back," said Harris.
Harris also told the board that the library had received dividers and an air purification machine through CARES Act funding from the city. "We are super thankful for that," she said.
Board member Sandra Wright asked if the library has a list of improvements they want to make if the sales tax bond proposal is approved by Forrest City voters.
"I do have a partial list," said Harris, who send board members the list via email.
The items on the list include an amphitheater-type seating facility and beautification of the area behind the library for outdoor programs and concerts, new fencing for the parking lot across the street and behind the library, a handicap ramp for the front of the library, roof replacement, ceiling replacement on the back addition, water sealant in the basement, new laminate flooring throughout the library, exterior painting of building frames, bench, mailbox, etc., shelving in staff areas for storage and repairing the Dennis Memorial Park Archway.
"We are actually sitting on the Dennis Memorial Park," Harris told the board. "It was a popular horse and carriage lunch spot and we'd really like to get the archway fixed."
Harris told the board she believes that getting the library’s proposed improvements on the ballot is a win for the facility.
"But now the real work begins. I have a binder on what we can or can't do for campaigning," said Harris. "There are a lot of things I can't do in that regard. For example, we cannot use any library taxpayer dollars to pay for signs or shirts or anything like that. The Friends group can handle that, but we can't."
Harris said she would reach out to the Friends of the Library group to see if they had any plans for promoting the improvements and report back to the board on her findings.
Harris also told the board that current legislation, Senate Bill 127, would allow libraries to be able to use credit and debit cards to pay for fines and fees.
"There is some ambiguity with charging transaction fees to collect fines current," said Harris. "So, most libraries don't allow people to use a credit card to pay fines and fees. Now, there is a bill to allow libraries to electronically pay for services."
Lindsay Hodges, board chair, asked Harris to review the logistics and prices for getting the library set up with a credit card machine in the future.