Board to Determine County Library’s Future

By Tammy Moore Teague
The Sebastian County Library board will meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday in hopes of advancing improvements for several of its branches. This meeting is open to the public and will be held Farmers Bank’s community room in Greenwood.
At the last meeting a committee was formed and charged with the task of scouting possible sites for a new library or renovating the current building in Greenwood. “We are hoping that the committee presents to the board something that we can work toward,” said Friends of the Sebastian County Public Library member Beverly Jeffery. Additional improvements are needed at other South Sebastian County branches including Mansfield.
Consultant Dr. David Price advised the library board that an additional 10,000 square feet of space is needed. He added that the current building does not meet ADA requirements. The cost of a new facility is estimated at 1.9 million, with the old building serving as an administration building. Other options would include adding a third floor at the current location and a lease-purchase building agreement with the city of Greenwood.
Although ultimately the decision will be made by the library board, Friends of the Sebastian County Public Library is rallying for improvements. “I’m looking forward to the future,” FOL President Brenda Yancey Chamness said.
Anyone interested in the future of our library is encouraged to attend the meeting. If you are interested in joining Friends of the Sebastian County Public Library you can contact Chamness at 479-461-5198 and you can also check them out on Facebook.