After a major renovation and expansion project, the Cabool branch of the Texas County Library is once again open to the public.
The project began in October 2016 and includes a thorough makeover of the previous 1,675 square foot building, featuring new paint, ceiling tiling, flooring and carpeting, shelving and more. County library system director Molly Shelton said another 1,550 square feet was added, and the spacious complex now boasts a large study area and a much-improved kids’ area.
The Cabool library has been closed throughout the process and reopened last Saturday with an open house event.
“I feel really good about the result,” Shelton said. “It’s kind of been a hurry-up-and-wait deal, but it’s turned out really beautiful. It’s modern and the functionality of it is perfect – exactly what was needed.
“There have a been a lot of people who have been very patient while construction was going on for so long, and I think they’re going to like what they see.”
Shelton has been employed by the Texas County Library system for 10 years and became director in late 2013. She said final details with regard to the cost of the project are being worked out, but the contracted cost was $525,632.
Much of the funding through the Texas County Library Foundation came from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant and via donors acquiring Department of Economic Development Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits. But Shelton said a significant portion came from a donation by a local couple.
“That was very cool,” she said. “They’re just wonderful people.”
Shelton said Cabool’s librarians – Liza Cannon and Laine Jeep – will focus on beefing up children’s programming and improving the Friends of the Library program.
“They’ll be trying to build on what’s already happened,” Shelton said, “and keep the momentum going.”
Shelton said the county library system and its board members will now set their sights on expansion of the Houston branch. Preliminary discussion has begun, she said, but no plans or timetable exist yet.
“Right now it’s all about assessing what Houston needs and where that can go,” Shelton said.
Shelton also said the Houston Friends of the Library program has been “stagnant” for too long, and plenty of effort will soon take place to make it a viable operation.
The Cabool branch is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The phone number is 417-962-3722.
“We’re looking forward to 2018,” Shelton said. “It’s going to be another good year.”
“There have a been a lot of people who have been very patient while construction was going on for so long, and I think they’re going to like what they see.”
TEXAS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM DIRECTOR MOLLY SHELTON