Library director says he needs more space

By Staff
May 23, 2004
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
The director of the Meridian-Lauderdale County Library says the library is running out of room and he would like to see local funding that was cut back over several years replaced.
Steve McCartney has been director of the library for 13 years.
He said efforts are being made to revitalize a local Friends of the Library group.
McCartney also said the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors has gradually reduced the amount of countywide taxes it has appropriated for the library over the past three years.
He said he would like to see the amount of funding restored.
A millage rate is the amount of tax paid per dollar on the assessed value of property. One mill equals one-tenth of a 1 cent. Therefore, for each mill a taxpayer would pay $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value.
McCartney said the library has operated with a budget of about $800,000 to $850,000 the past four years. He said some money comes from the state and the the locally-based Riley Foundation has given the library $250,000 in grants to build up its non-fiction and audio book catalogs.
McCartney also talked about the changing role of libraries over the years, the growth of the local library, upgrades being planned locally and summer programs being scheduled.