Our Commissioner of Libraries, Wayne Onkst, sent this around to friends of Kentucky libraries on 9 November and with his permission, I am re-posting here to the KYVL blog:
Nikole Wolfe has informed me that the McLean County Fiscal Court voted unanimously earlier today to enter into an agreement with KDLA to establish the McLean County Public Library. We expect to sign the agreement soon so the County Judge can appoint a board of trustees. Thanks so much to Nikole and Susan Dunman who have worked with library supporters and county officials for a long time to make this possible. The library that has been operated mainly by volunteers with some support by the city of Livermore for about 60 years will be transferred to the new library board and will become the county’s library. The library will be funded primarily with a federal grant obtained by Congressman Whitfield for the next 2 years after which long term funding must be obtained. So the vote today by the Fiscal Court is the beginning of what will certainly be a long process to make the library permanent.
Nevertheless, this is a major milestone for Kentucky and for our libraries. With the new libraries in Carter County and McLean County, for the first time public library service will be available in every county. Free public library service for every resident of Kentucky has been a dream of many for a long time. There are so many people who have worked so hard to establish and build the public library service we enjoy. Many receiving this message deserve a share of the credit and I’m sure we all know of others in our communities who have worked and sacrificed much for their libraries.
We have a lot of work to do to make certain this new service continues and to guarantee quality service across Kentucky, but I think today it is appropriate that we all celebrate the hard work that has been accomplished in each of our counties to make this day possible.
Wayne
Wayne Onkst
State Librarian & Commissioner
Kentucky Dept. for Libraries and Archives
P. O. Box 537
Frankfort, Ky. 40602-0537
502-564-8300 x312