09-02-2025
Muskogee Public Library aims for funding, growth
Muskogee Public Library Branch Manager Julie Poor said she dreams of serving twice as many visitors than the 81,314 who visited last year.
'I love that people want to come and use the library,' Poor said. 'I love that people want to see this as a stopping place for them.'
However, the library must address many problems before those dreams come true, officials said. For example, a boiler/chiller and a public elevator have not been replaced for 52 years and are in constant need of repair, Poor said.
The library, part of Eastern Oklahoma Library System, seeks funding to meet immediate needs and long-term goals, said Kathy Seibold, system executive director.
The system is embarking on an Imagine More fundraising campaign raise at least $8 million for an eventual library renovation.
Seibold said the library will first seek major funding sources, including potential sales tax revenue. A second phase would include gifts between $50,000 to $500,000, a third phase could include community donations. She said fundraising could take three years.
Oklahoma libraries are funded mostly through city funds and county taxes, she said.
Cities pay the utilities, insurance and building maintenance. The city of Muskogee allocated $65,000 for the library out of its 2024-25 budget, Seibold said.
Counties provide ad valorem tax to libraries. Muskogee County provides four mills for library services throughout the county, Seibold said. Other libraries in the county are in Warner, Fort Gibson and Haskell.
'This year, Muskogee County provided $2,308,834.74 for the entire county,' Seibold said. 'EOLS uses ad valorem revenue to provide staff, materials and programming for the libraries in the system. Muskogee Public Library's individual budget is $1,238,627.'
Major library repairs were part of a city sales tax proposed for 2024 public vote. The election, along with a larger bond issue, were later scrapped. The sales tax proposal, to replace the half-cent sales tax expiring this October, included $1.5 million for HVAC and interior improvements at the library.
The city formed a committee to plan projects for a 2025 sales tax vote. The library wants to be a part of that sales tax proposal for at least $1.5 million, Seibold said.
Poor said the library has many age-related problems. She said the public elevator failed to operate 13 times in the past year.
Water leaks from the downstairs chiller, which dates to the library's opening. Poor said it's hard to get parts for a unit that old.
'This becomes a huge issue,' Poor said. 'The summer before last, we were shut down 13 days. The highest we got was 91 degrees inside the library.'
Floors are cracking in the lobby. Carpet is soiled upstairs and downstairs.
Seibold said the library eventually will need a total remodel.
'We would take it down to the studs,' she said. 'We have some restrooms that are not active right now because of the plumbing is not good. It needs new electrical, new HVAC. Those things alone would be $3 million.'
Poor said library employees discussed what they wanted Muskogee Library to be. Suggestions included more Maker Space for 3D printing and other computer-assisted projects.
'We want to meet the needs of today's patron,' Siebold said. 'Which means more community space. More space for one-on-one meetings, small rooms for teachers to meet with students.'
Artist renderings include outdoor spaces, such as a balcony, meeting area and children's space.
Seibold said the library would retain its mid-century modern style.
'That was something very important to us,' she said. 'They love this library. They love this building. There has been talk about building a new building. People said 'No.' It's important to them and important to us to maintain the style that this is, but bring it to today.'
