By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The patrons of Hartselle Public Library can expect to see additional operating hours and new and improved services when it becomes an entity of city government Oct. 1, according to Emily Love, librarian.
"We will be opening on Saturdays for at least a half day in the near future, story hour for pre-school kids will be increased from once a week to four times a week, and the turnover of books and materials in stock will be speeded up with the addition of a new cataloging computer software," Love stated.
"We have had a lot of people who work weekdays ask for Saturday hours," she added. "I'm glad that we're going to be able to accommodate them. We're also looking at adding evening hours in the future."
The library will continue to operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.
Love said the library will handle its own cataloging with the help of a new computer software system.
"With it we'll be able to get books up and out faster than before," she said.
The library's patrons, which total about 3,000, are being asked to sign up for a new library card. Anyone who resides in Morgan County is invited to use the facility.
One improvement in the making is an increase in large print books.
"We've applied for a state grant for funding and I'm optimistic that it will be approved," Love stated. "I'm very excited about the change and I want to thank city officials and the library board for their interest and support. Our goal is to provide better services for all of our patrons."
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said he believes the change will be a positive one.
"We'll have control over the expenditure of funds for the library as well as the level of services it offers its patrons. We'll also be able to help them with services already in place."
He gave computer upkeep and maintenance as an example.
Tankersley said the library's proposed operating budget for fiscal 2005-06 is $90,525.30.