Southeast Oklahoma Library System

PROJECT PURPOSE

We are remodeling the McAlester Public Library to transform it into the active and engaging community center our citizens deserve. The new design will add multiple rooms, large and small, for community gathering. Each room will incorporate technology that can be used by small business owners or individual citizens to connect with others, grow their businesses, and find jobs. The library will serve as the community living room and celebrate our culture and history. Welcoming space will facilitate users connecting their devices to our broadband or gathering with other citizens. Contemporary technology will encourage interactive learning by children and adults. A large meeting room will be available after hours and can be reserved by the community for receptions and parties. This large meeting room will offer a beautiful northern view over the city and give citizens a place they?re proud to meet and gather with others.

EVIDENCE

Our 2019 campaign study interviewed and surveyed many individuals who remarked on the great need for meeting and gathering space in McAlester. Our high poverty numbers correlate to poor access to broadband, a need the remodeled library will fulfill.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Small business owners cannot afford to rent the only other meeting space in our community. Our remodel will give them a professional place from which to conduct their business. Many families who will use our spaces for telehealth purposes lack bandwidth at their homes or the technology to use it if they did. The library will supply both and expand access to health services.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

We monitor and track usage of meeting room and use of our broadband and public computers. We will ask users of our meeting rooms to indicate the purpose of their meetings - business, telehealth, personal, other. We also record our door count to track the number of people using the library.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding