CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Public Library Board of approved the library system’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 at its Oct. 22 meeting, just days before the library officially launched the capital campaign that will help build its next chapter.
The Board also welcomed new member Melanie Maddox, who will serve as a member at-large, and held an executive session to elect new officers, according to Cullman County Public Library System Assistant Director Shelby Creekmore.
‘Every Chapter Matters’
The library officially kicked off its capital campaign, Every Chapter Matters, at the Spooktacular Storybook 5K on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The library has secured a little over $5.2 million toward its original $6 million building goal, CCPLS Director Amber Thornton said. The year-long campaign aims to close that gap and reach the full $6 million. Any money raised above the goal will go toward finishing touches for the new building, such as furnishings, landscaping and furniture.
The official total raised at the 5K had not yet been tallied; however, Creekmore previously told The Tribune it was more than $15,000. She said an update is expected soon from the Friends of the Public Libraries of Cullman County.
To help lead the effort, the library hired Laney Hulsey as its capital campaign marketing manager. The Board’s agenda included approval to pay Hulsey a contract rate of $25 an hour from the Capital Campaign Fund for one year, from Oct. 24, 2026, through Oct. 24, 2027.
In her October report to the board, Thornton said she has seen a rough draft floor plan of the new building from Williams Blackstock Architects. She also visited three branches of the Nashville Public Library System, bringing home ideas for a makerspace lab, teen hangout spaces and content creation spaces.
“I am really excited about the future of CCPLS!” Thornton wrote.
Your library, your voice
The library has also launched a community survey asking residents what they would like to see in the future library. Responses will also help shape future library programming.
“Whether you’re a regular visitor or haven’t been in years, we’d love your input,” the survey card reads.
The survey is available online at https://tinyurl.com/3spjzfwu.
Grants and projects
The Board’s agenda also included approval of several grant-funded purchases:
- A laptop cart and laptops through a grant from RC&D for the library’s digital literacy efforts. Thornton said the library has since purchased 20 new laptops and a charging cart.
- $15,000 to BSC Solutions to digitize microfilm, paid with federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant funds.
- $17,425 to Perfect Playground for playground equipment, paid with the library’s Lowe’s Community Impact Grant.
Thornton’s October report noted that work on the Lowe’s outdoor play and reading space had been paused over auto insurance requirements. Thornton said that is no longer the case, and the project is moving forward.
A busy September
According to the director’s report, the library system in September issued 281 new library cards, offered 65 programs with 2,332 attendees, checked out 6,474 books and 3,621 e-books and audiobooks and logged 368 public computer uses.
At an average cost of $25 per book, Thornton said patrons saved more than $161,000 on books in September alone, not counting e-books and audiobooks.
Thornton also reported that the City of Cullman did not increase the library’s appropriation enough to add a full-time staff member, but did include the $350,000 it approved in January 2025 as matching funds for the library’s federal appropriation. She said she is working on ways to create a needed Programs and Youth Services Librarian position.
Thornton also spoke to Cullman County school principals this month about free resources the library offers students and teachers, and several schools have since asked for visits.
Coming up
The library will hold a Gratitude Dinner Nov. 16 and will have a Giving Haus at Christkindlmarkt Nov. 19-22.
The next Library Board meeting is set for Friday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. in the Special Collections Room at the Cullman County Public Library, 200 Clark St. NE.
For more information about the library or the Every Chapter Matters campaign, visit www.cullmanlib.org or call 256-734-2720.
