CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Public Library System (CCPLS) recently received $500,000, delivered by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, to help with early planning and design for future improvements and expansion.
According to Gudger’s office, the funds were appropriated in the Education Trust Fund Supplemental Fund, a part of the state budget.
CCPLS Director Amber Thornton said the funding is an important first step in growing the library’s services to meet the community’s needs.
“This investment means that our community has all bought in together and that our legislative delegation and the state are in business with us and they want to see the library grow,” Thornton said. “This means that it’s the first step toward our expansion space that we need so that we can serve the community better.”
Thornton said that the funding will let the library keep working with its architects and move further into planning. The money will go toward detailed blueprints, soil surveys and studies to find out what can be safely built on the property.
Right now, the library is considering several new features for the expansion. Thornton said they hope to add an auditorium with about 700 seats and a stage, as well as more study rooms, meeting rooms and a conference room. There are also plans to make the children’s area about three times bigger, giving kids their own space for programs away from the main library.
“We’re excited about that,” Thornton said. “Right now, all of our kids have to go in the main library and there’s not a separate space for them.”
The expansion could also include a STEM lab for the library’s STEM club and classroom space for homeschool groups and educational programs.
Thornton said that support from Gudger and other local leaders shows a shared commitment to the community.
“We’re all in this together,” she said. “We’re all community leaders. We’re all serving the same people.” Looking ahead, Thornton said she hopes the expanded library will remain a central resource and gathering place for Cullman County. “We already serve so many people, whether it is through access to computers or Wi-Fi or books or digital programs. We want to be that connection where we can bridge the gap for people and help those in need.”
