much needed

assistance

By

JOAN GANDY

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ &045; Times are tough. Budgets are shrinking. Extra money is &045; well, it isn’t there for most agencies that depend on government funding.

For the Judge George Armstrong Library in Natchez, however, the silver lining shining through the dark uncertainty is an organization devoted to helping the library with some of the important extras the budget might not allow.

The Friends of the Armstrong Library have for many years made an impact on activities and materials the library can provide its patrons. Today, the importance of the Friends may be more significant than ever, said Susan Cassagne, library director.

&uot;They have paid the library’s membership in the Chamber of Commerce. They bought a laser printer for people using the public-access printers. They bought a rug and bean bag chair for the children’s area. They funded a children’s poetry tea. They gave money to purchase juvenile nonfiction books and beginning reader books. And they purchased the 1930 Census on microfilm to add to the collection,&uot; Cassagne said.

All of those gifts came in the past year. More is in the works. As one of the library’s biggest projects ever gets off the ground, help from donations will make the task much easier, Cassagne said.

&uot;The big project is automation. We’re looking to do it with donations,&uot; she said. &uot;Automation will provide an online catalog of all our collections. Everything in our database will be on line.&uot;

As with other upgrades at the library, the automation project has one thing in mind &045; helping all patrons to have better and easier access to the library.

&uot;Automation will allow homebound patrons to use the library,&uot; Cassagne said. &uot;And I want to have an interlibrary agreement with school libraries so school children can check out our books through their school librarians.&uot;

Not every child has transportation to the library, she said. But they do have transportation to school, and they can go to their librarians and tell them which books they need, Cassagne said.

At a conservative estimate of $80,000 for the entire automation project, the change should be complete by spring. &uot;We have signed the contract and invited vendors to come in. Every piece of hardware in the building has to be changed.&uot;

The plan is to complete the project entirely with donated funds, if possible, Cassagne said.

With that in mind, Friends of the Library decided to hold a different kind of membership kickoff &045; a party instead of a meeting.

Virginia O’Beirne, president of the Friends, and her husband, Danny O’Beirne, treasurer of the group, will host a party at their home, 215 Arlington Ave., from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 15.

&uot;The idea is that more people may come to a party than to a membership meeting at the library, which is usually the way they start the season,&uot; Cassagne said.

The Friends have two primary fund raisers during the year &045; ongoing used book sales at the library and the Christmas tour of specially selected homes.

However, gifts always are welcome and can be sent regardless of membership in the group or attendance at the party on Sept. 15.

Now more than ever the library plays an important role in the community. With unemployment rising after plant closings and layoffs, more people turn to the library as a resource.

&uot;And when you tighten you budget, you look for things you can do without. You might not renew that subscription or buy the new book, but you can find them at the library,&uot; Cassagne said.

And as tourism takes on an even greater importance, again the library is a key institution. &uot;Visitors should know that they can come to the library and there is no charge to e-mail back home,&uot; she said.