The Oglethorpe County Library gave back 33% more in value for each dollar it received last year.

This increase from 2021 to 2022 shows that the library is a strong investment for the community with the services it offers, such as books, renting the meeting room, the study room and computer usage. 

“People are using us, and they get a lot of good value from us,” branch manager Austin Jenkins said. “It’s a good investment.”

The data, which is from the Georgia Public Library Service, shows that for every $1 the library earned, it gave back $4.30 in services to the county. That’s an increase from $3.21 in 2021.

The Oglethorpe County Library Board of Trustees also discussed a new board of directors for the Friends of the Library, funding and plans at the quarter-annual board meeting on Jan. 18. 

Part of the plans was the launch — that day — of a newly designed website, allowing everyone to stay up to date on events with an interactive calendar and information on services and announcements. 

The book sale events, essential to help fund certain programs of the library, is also a fundamental part of plans for the board.

Last year, the library made $820 at its spring book sale. Harry Potter Book Night, movie nights, the read-aloud club, book club and one-on-one services are among the programs these sales helped fund.

“I would love to see more book donations,” Jenkins said. “We are in that middle period where it is not quite the time for the book sale. We just had one, but we can absolutely take donations at any time.”

The Friends of the Library spring book sale will be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 13-15. 

In other library board business:

• The Christmas bazaar sale made $1,200 last year, twice as much as in 2021.
• The board discussed new interior lights at an estimated cost of $6,250 after receiving an offer that was too low on its funding for the lights from the county. Board member Michael Garner and others plan to go to the Board of Commissioners with a presentation to ask the BOC to match its initial proposal.
• Friends of the Library will elect a new board of directors on Feb. 6 at the library. The board anticipates Babs DeArmond, who is the treasurer, to be president, Jean Westmacott to take over as secretary and Peg Thon to become the new treasurer.
• Board members will attend Georgia Library Day at the state Capitol on Feb. 8 to talk with legislators about what the library needs, like more funding, access to technology and visibility.
• The next library board meeting is planned for April 19 and is open to the public.