The one year old Cleveland Library on N.C. Highway 42 accepted a recent challenge to raise its 50,000 book collection to 114,000 by 2014 and its 6 computers to 30. Professional librarians recommended a $2.2 million budget to cover the cost of the books, unless local donations of books and labeling materials can be found. The collection spans beginner and easy read books to select college level materials. Ronald Still, the library director, has been using Johnston County projections to determine the population for the 1913 Cleveland Township boundaries and targeted a need for only 60,000 books in 2010 and 15 computer stations. The committee posting a pro-incorporation web site at http://clevelandschool.webs.com/ challenged the population figures by using various ring studies rather than the political boundaries for Cleveland Township, including one demonstrating that a 4-mile circle from the Old Cleveland School will have a population of 28,506 residents in the next five years, requiring 114,000 books to maintain the current 4 books per resident currently at the library. As more volunteers help, more books are finding their way to the shelves. Regardless of incorporation, the residents of this growth area, with its many schools, need to have local access to a non-school library with ample books and computers for their families and neighbors. While some sources note the country of Georgia has 15 books per resident, the entire Johnston County library system currently ensures only 1.7 books per resident and brings 2,000 by bookmobile to the Cleveland area, 13% of one book per resident. By 2014, the same Library bookmobile visit will be offering only 7% of one book per resident. The nearby libraries, Four Oaks at 16,000 books and Clayton at 60,000 books, have no space to add 114,000 books for Cleveland and are inadequate for the anticipated population growth. By 2014 the Cleveland area will have a larger population than most of Johnston County’s towns with libraries. Volunteers are needed to organize the collection, carpenters to add shelving, electricians for wiring, and computer users are needed for shelf tags and cataloging tasks on Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturdays 9-6. Before August 2010, the library will need 10,000 sq. ft. of floor space to display all its books and set up all its computers and another 10,000 by 2014. Donations may be made by PayPal or credit card at http://4042needs.org/library/, deposited at any Four Oaks Bank branch in the name of Cleveland Library, dropped by the library, or mailed to Cleveland Library, 1413 Kenbrook Dr., Garner, NC 27529.
