By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

“Today we hope to be able to share some of our dreams and aspirations for the new library,” said Corbin Library Board President Diane Mitchell as she welcomed elected officials and community leaders to a brunch Thursday at the library.

Mitchell and other members of the library board shared their plans for the new library building. Earlier this year, the library board purchased the former Vintage House Restaurant at 305 Roy Kidd Ave. to nearly double the size of the current facility.

Library Board member Anne Hoskins said the board plans to receive construction bids Tuesday and make a decision on awarding a contract Dec. 3. She said she hoped for a four-month construction period.

She invited members of the community to attend meetings of the library board, at 5:45 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, to offer ideas and suggestions for the new space.

“What are your dreams for this building? How do you see our building meeting the needs of this community over the next 40 to 50 years?” she asked the crowd.

The Corbin Free Public Library was officially opened Sept. 30, 1911. It was organized and managed by the Women’s Club and contained a collection of about 200 volumes.

In 1916, the Carnegie Library was established with the help of the Women’s Improvement Club, the Carnegie Foundation and the city of Corbin. It was re-organized as the Corbin Public Library in 1951 and the current building was erected in 1968.

Hoskins called the current building a blessing that has served well for more than 40 years, but the time has come to expand once again.

The library board has taken out a $700,000 loan to buy the former Vintage House and make necessary repairs and upgrades, estimated at the time of purchase. Since then, additional expenses have come up — most notably an unexpected cost of about $50,000 to install a sprinkler system in the new building.

Hoskins announced at the meeting that the Hoskins family would be donating a two-story atrium addition in honor of her late husband Springer Hoskins, at an estimated cost of $75,000.

Other wish-list items include $25,000 for a fenced courtyard, $22,000 for a circulation desk, $10,000 for an information desk in the children’s area, $5,000 for shelves and furnishings in the children’s area, $5,000 for shelves and furnishings in the teen area, $15,000 for furnishings in the main reading areas and $7,500 for furnishings in a historical research room.

The Ossoli Club of Corbin previously announced that it would fund $16,000 for the new community room.

Hoskins encouraged the community to consider donating to these library needs, possibly as a memorial or tribute.

Several in attendance asked questions about the library’s funding. Library Director Brenda Huff said state aid to local libraries has been continually cut for two years. Last year, she said the Corbin library received about $10,000 from the state. The city of Corbin, which gives annually to the library, has increased its contribution to just over $40,000 this fiscal year. The library also receives 25 percent of the Whitley County Library Tax, the rest going to the county library in Williamsburg.

Huff also updated the crowd on the four goals last outlined in the library’s long-range plan developed in October 2007. Those goals included increasing the number of DVDs and their circulation, extending and expanding computer service, increasing adult program attendance, and promoting the library within Corbin’s “urban cluster.”

Since then, the library has more than doubled its video circulation.

“In 2007, the library circulated 3,271 videos, most of which were VHS, but by the end of 2008, the DVD collection had increase sufficiently to more than double video circulation to 6,805, of which, 5,400 were DVD check-outs,” Huff said.

Computer use increased as well. The library now offers 21 computer terminals for public use, including 12 laptops for in-house check-out.

Huff also reported that the library received a $5,800 programming grant from the state to offer free digital photography workshops for seniors. The library also offered a series of art classes for youth and adults.

“As a result of radio and newspaper announcements, we have increased service to the public, and promoted library awareness with things such as income tax preparation services provided by AARP for the last two years,” Huff said. “KCEOC brings Head Start groups to our library for storytime, and our local schools plan field trips which also aid in the promotion of our library.”