The Choctaw branch of the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma City, destroyed by a tornado in May 1999, reopened in a temporary storefront space July 26.
Until the temporary quarters were established, Choctaw staff had been reassigned to other system locations, and branch users had to travel to other towns to borrow materials.
In February, Choctaw voters passed a $1.1-million bond for the construction of a new 9,000-square-foot building. The Metropolitan Library Commission also dedicated $800,000 to the project, which is scheduled for completion in early 2002.
Although the current space houses 8,000 fewer volumes than the old library, it contains more new titles, and the collection will be expanded even more over the next few months. Janet Brooks, materials selection manager, said that an extra $60,000 from losses covered by insurance more than doubles this fiscal year’s materials budget—“so the potential is there to double the number of materials.”
Posted July 31, 2000.