COMMERCE - Residents filled the Commerce City Hall Council Chambers Thursday evening as part of a second meeting to brainstorm ideas on how to plan, promote, and carry out an effort to save the city's public library, a Texas historical landmark constructed in 1918.
At 95 years old, the building is in need of structural and design repairs, estimated at $400,000.
"The way things look around our town changes the way we feel about our town," says Mike Odom, a library volunteer.
At the meeting, citizens were asked to separate themselves into four groups, each specializing in one specific topic of discussion. They included how to find funding, framework for accepting and coordinating in-kind donations of labor and materials, donors and recognition levels for the donors, and aesthetic considerations and content of presentations to community and civic groups.
As groups brainstormed ideas on their topics, they were asked to post each idea for members of other groups to view. From making sure that donors get thank-you cards, to planning out the sequence of restoration of the building (i.e. fixing the roof before painting the walls), multiple aspects were considered and planned so that this project could go as smoothly as possible.
Towards the end of the meeting, the four groups were asked to become separate committees that would meet on a regular basis to continue brainstorming and performance of the ideas developed.
Those who would like to be a part of this planning process and are willing to be a part of a committee are asked to contact Donna Dunbar-Odom at Donna.Dunbar-Odom@tamuc.edu.
More information on the Commerce Public Library is available at www.commercepubliclibrary.org.
