BRENHAM LIBRARY FUNDRAISING TO CONTINUE

  

Officials with the Nancy Carol Roberts Library say they’ll continue their fundraising efforts to help pay for massive renovations at the local library.

This past Thursday, the Brenham City Council awarded a contract to Collier Construction for just over 3-and a half-million dollars for the renovations.

City officials say they have slightly more than $3.1-million ear-marked for the project--$1.6 million raised through private sources and $1.5 million from certificates of obligation the city issued.

City officials say they will make up the difference through another debt issuance in the future.

Wende Ragonis, the city’s director of administrative services, tells the Brenham Banner Press there’s a long list of “enhancements” that still must be paid for including: furniture, fixtures and equipment, audio/visual and technology equipment, landscaping and irrigation and expenses to move into the new facility—totalling over one-half million dollars.

Ragonis tells the Banner Press, the Library Advisory Board has authorized contracting with a local marketing firm “to design fundraising campaign materials for the modernization project.”

The fundraising effort is expected to be launched soon, with the Library Advisory Board expected to iron out details of the campaign at a meeting Wednesday.

Ragonis said the campaign will be community-wide, ranging from children to business owners.

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6 Comments

  1. In my opinion, this is a malicious waste of taxpayer money. Blinn has a terrific library, already mostly taxpayer funded, and the need for libraries are almost nonexistent. Anyone who had gone to NCML in the past few years, could see that there was very little traffic going in and out, and alot of the people went there just to use the computers. This much money could be spent more wisely.

    1. I agree entirely. I urge donations be made to our animal shelter. This is the electronic age, amazon, used book stores, etc. a waste of tax money. Books are being recycled by the ton at our local recycling center.

    2. Whether the library renovation was needed or not, I cannot say, but we do need libraries. You say you saw very little traffic, but have you ever been to Mrs. Lou-Lou’s Wednesday morning story time? I wonder in how many children has a love of reading been developed or nurtured through the years thanks to this wonderful program? As to Blinn’s library, yes, it is terrific, but if you are not a student or employee, you have to pay a fee to use their services, and there are no children’s books there.

      1. Actually, Blinn College Library does have children’s books available to patrons. There is an entire section dedicated to children’s books. Anyone is allowed to use the library, however, if you would like to check out items, then you must present a TexShare card (available free of purchase from Nancy Carol Roberts Library) or if you are a Washington County resident, you may pay $15.00 per year. Its a really nice set up actually.

          1. Yes and while I attended Mrs Lou – Lou’s summer program as well as all 4 of my children. She won’t do it forever. And they’ll never find another like her. Besides she could do that at the Blinn Library. 73 not saying I happy about it just being logical. I still prefer turning a page.

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