Text Box: Bettye’s Speaking Schedule:   4/13/08 Dothan Kiwanis Club   4/20/08 Houston Co. Schools’ principals and media specialists   7/29/08 Houston Co. Kiwanis   8/1/08 Dothan City Schools in-service for all staff and administration   8/13/08 Philanthropic Education Organization   9/4/08 Newcomers’ Club   9/04/08 Joy Holman Study Club   9/09/08 Civitan Club   9/10/08 Education Foundation   9/11/08 Temple Emanuel Sisterhood   9/16/08 Ex Libris Study Club   9/17/08 Houston Academy in-service training for Upper School Staff   9/28/08 Eureka Club   10/07/08 Soroculae Club   10/09/08 Twentieth Century Study Club   10/9/08 United Daughters of Confederacy   10/15/08 Dothan Ladies’ Club   10/15/08 Azalea Garden Club   11/15/08 Dothan Area Botanical Gardens   1/6/09 First United Methodist Women’s Group

Text Box:                  The Houston-Love Memorial Library Board was charged last spring with raising 3 million dollars in private funding before the Dothan City Commission and the Houston County Commission would commit monies to the project.  This summer a revised plan for private fund-raising for building the new Houston-Love Memorial Library has been adjusted from a goal of three million dollars to two million dollars and the city and county commissions have removed the upfront requirement for private funding. The city has unofficially agreed to a $14 million dollar commitment and the Houston County Commission has unofficially agreed to a two million dollar commitment.  The wait is now on for the economic climate to improve so that tax collections allow the government entities

Text Box: to vote for allocation of the promised funds. The city agreed to send out solicitations in the July utility bills to city customers.  Approximately $60,000 has come in from this source and other private donations. Contacts are still being made with potential benefactors by library board members and advisory board members. Bettye Forbus has sought and accepted speaking engagements to civic, social, and religious groups in the community and will continue to inform Dothan’s citizens about the importance and necessity of a new home for the public’s knowledge storehouse. Any organizations interested in having a presentation about the new library may contact Bettye at 793-9767. See sidebar for groups Bettye has addressed.

Text Box: A large contingent of library supporters attended the August work session of the Dothan City Commission, called to discuss plans for the new public library.  No questions or issues were permitted from the floor but principal parties were able to offer explanations and clarifications for some issues that were discussed.  Bettye Forbus, Houston-Love Memorial Library

Text Box: Director, Mike West, Dothan City Manager, and Angela Palmer, Dothan City Finance Director, provided information to the commission. The stated consensus of the commission was that they supported a new library and are committed to future exploration of building plans but that the economic report on the sales

Text Box: taxes collected locally prevent them from bringing library construction to a vote until an upturn in revenue occurs.  They agreed to re-examine the issue after the November figures on the economy are in. Commissioner Paul Lee agreed to approach the Wiregrass Foundation to explore support from their resources for a new library facility.

Text Box: NAMING OPPORTUNITIES for the new library building include but are not limited to: · Children’s Room · Reference Room · Genealogy Room · Computer Lab · Community Room · Young Adult Area   If you are searching for a permanent way to memorialize someone, there is no better way than etching the name(s) for all to see and for all to enjoy the legacy of that gift.  Opportunities begin at $15,000 for areas and continue in increments for rooms and the building itself.     “What is more important in a library than anything else—than everything else—is the fact that it exists.” Archibald MacLeish

Text Box: What a service! Do you know about the State Library System’s Alabama Virtual Library?  Access to various research and news services are available. The State Library also has online Homework Alabama.  It offers homework assistance in all areas—from sciences and math, to humanities and social sciences.  Just log on and follow the prompts to get the guidance needed to solve student dilemmas with homework.  The State Library site also offers a Learning Express Library which has study guides for all sorts of standardized tests from GED to college entrance and technical career board tests.  Check it out at avl.lib.al.us (homework)) and statelibrary.gov for other links.

Text Box: Friends of the Library Houston-Love Memorial Library Dothan, Alabama  

Text Box: Taylor Barbaree has been appointed by the Mayor to head up a library committee composed of Barbaree, other commissioners, and people selected at large by Mr. Barbaree to examine the options available to the city in securing funds and allocating them for the purpose of building the much needed new library.  Call him to cast your vote of support,615-3111 (city) or 792-9815 (home).

Text Box: Need Christmas Gift Ideas? Why not donate monies for a book or other media to H-L Memorial Library in memory or honor of those on your gift list?  Call  Bettye 793-9767 for information.

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