Keep Grand Saline Library Open
Donation protected
The Grand Saline Public Library is a small library in northeast Texas that serves residents of Van Zandt County and surrounding communities. In 2016 the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court voted to no longer fund the Grand Saline Public Library. The library had been funded by the county for many years and we were not aware that they were considering to cease funding us until the month before budget hearings began.
Precinct One Commissioner Brandon Brown had planned to continue funding the library from monies from his budget but because the money was not marked as a line item in the budget the library cannot get the funds.
Since we just learned we would not be getting the funding we are in the difficult position of approaching the busiest time of the year without enough money to operate the library. We currently have just a little over two thousand dollars left in our account. This amount should only get us through the month of May.
We are raising funds to help with our day to day operations, to help fund our summer reading program, and to purchase materials for the library. Our first priority will be paying for our utilities followed by purchasing books for the library.
There are people who come to the library daily to apply for jobs and benefits who do not have either a computer or internet at home. We are one of the few libraries in the state that offers mobile hot spots for check out. Some of the patrons who have been using these were having to sit in their cars on the weekends and evenings to use the Wi-Fi at the library to access the internet. Now they can take the hot spots and work from home because of this service provided by the library. The library is also part of a large consortium that allows our patrons to check out eBooks and downloadable audiobooks.
Our library is a refuge. During the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter people come to the library for the air conditioning and heat that they don’t have or can’t afford in their homes. We have people who come to the library for access to running water. They come to charge their phones. They come to have someone to talk to.
Providing the ability to be able to apply for a job, to check out large print materials when your eyes can no longer read smaller print, for DVDs for the grandchildren to watch, to read the newest eBook from your favorite author, to cool off on a hot summer’s day; these are just some of the reasons why this library is so important to the community and why we need your help to keep it open.
***Don't forget that you can claim any donations to the library on your tax return.***
Precinct One Commissioner Brandon Brown had planned to continue funding the library from monies from his budget but because the money was not marked as a line item in the budget the library cannot get the funds.
Since we just learned we would not be getting the funding we are in the difficult position of approaching the busiest time of the year without enough money to operate the library. We currently have just a little over two thousand dollars left in our account. This amount should only get us through the month of May.
We are raising funds to help with our day to day operations, to help fund our summer reading program, and to purchase materials for the library. Our first priority will be paying for our utilities followed by purchasing books for the library.
There are people who come to the library daily to apply for jobs and benefits who do not have either a computer or internet at home. We are one of the few libraries in the state that offers mobile hot spots for check out. Some of the patrons who have been using these were having to sit in their cars on the weekends and evenings to use the Wi-Fi at the library to access the internet. Now they can take the hot spots and work from home because of this service provided by the library. The library is also part of a large consortium that allows our patrons to check out eBooks and downloadable audiobooks.
Our library is a refuge. During the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter people come to the library for the air conditioning and heat that they don’t have or can’t afford in their homes. We have people who come to the library for access to running water. They come to charge their phones. They come to have someone to talk to.
Providing the ability to be able to apply for a job, to check out large print materials when your eyes can no longer read smaller print, for DVDs for the grandchildren to watch, to read the newest eBook from your favorite author, to cool off on a hot summer’s day; these are just some of the reasons why this library is so important to the community and why we need your help to keep it open.
***Don't forget that you can claim any donations to the library on your tax return.***
Organizer and beneficiary
Grand Saline Public Library
Organizer
Grand Saline, TX
Grand Saline Public Library
Beneficiary
