Coalgate Library Faces Possible Closure in January
At the Coalgate Public Library, citizens can borrow books, audiobooks, DVDs, and equipment such as a projector. It offers public Internet computers and early learning computers for children. Library cardholders can use a meeting room and its teleconferencing equipment for free. Students can use the technology and resources for papers and homework assignments. But unless the City of Coalgate, Coal County, or a local group or organization commits to paying for the building’s utilities soon, the Coalgate library will close in January.
The Coalgate library receives a little over 45,000 in-person visits each year with 31,500 checkouts. Additionally, there are 6,200 public computer sessions recorded each year with over 5,300 hours logged. Realizing these numbers, it would be a hefty loss for the community.
The City of Coalgate had formerly paid for the utilities from the time the library joined Southeast Oklahoma Library System (SEOLS) in 1980 until this past May when the city determined its budget could no longer support the cost of the water and electric bills. Coal County, who owns the building, agreed at that time to pay the utilities through August. The county commissioners voted not to extend the payments past August. At their September 20 board meeting, the SEOLS board of trustees voted to pay the utilities through January 2023. If no entity steps forward and commits to paying for the utilities, the SEOLS board will then close the Coalgate library.
When Coal County joined the system in 1980, the library system accepted it under the same requirement it applies to all other member libraries: that utilities and library maintenance be provided locally. Therefore, the county agreed to provide maintenance and upkeep of the library facility and the City of Coalgate agreed to pay the utilities. The library system then provides staff, materials, furniture, equipment, and all other resources required to operate the library.
“SEOLS’ requirement that utilities be paid locally is a universal requirement across Oklahoma’s eight library systems,” according to SEOLS Executive Director Michael Hull. “If we pay for one library’s utilities, we would have to pay for them all. The cost would force us to cut services systemwide. Our libraries are strong because of the partnership we’ve used for over 50 years to split responsibilities. That’s what allows our libraries to offer levels of service similar to what you find in Oklahoma City, Tulsa or Dallas.”
If SEOLS is forced to close the Coalgate library, it will make every effort to add bookmobile service – already serving Cottonwood, Tupelo, Lehigh and Clarita – to Coalgate. The bookmobile carries 1,500 books and can bring items requested from other libraries. SEOLS is also looking into options to provide Wi-Fi hotspots in Clarita, Lehigh and Tupelo. Residents would continue to have access to SEOLS’ digital library that includes e-books, audiobooks, music, movies and several databases. Citizens can also access thousands of digital books, audiobooks and electronic resources through the library’s website at seolibraries.com.
The Coalgate library is the only physical public library in Coal County. Losing the library would hurt all citizens of Coal County, forcing them to drive to Ada or Atoka for the nearest physical library. And while SEOLS’ has a reciprocal agreement with Atoka’s parent library system that would allow Coal County residents to get a free library card there, no such agreement exists with the City of Ada and their library.
Groups, individuals, or organizations interested in helping with the funding of the utilities for the Coal County Public Library to keep the doors open are encouraged to reach out to Library Manager Dario Bellettini at 580-927-3103 for more information.