- December 13, 2025
In the face of dwindling funding, the library adds services, considers new construction.
It may cost nearly double to stock e-books than a traditional hardcovers, and maybe not every major publishing house allows its titles for electronic lending, but e-books will be available from the Flagler County Public Library starting in the fall.
In an effort to keep up with St. Johns and Volusia counties, which have both already incorporated e-books into their catalogs, the library has entered into a consortium with others in the state to integrate the technology locally.
The date of Oct. 1 has been tentatively set for launch.
According to a Feb. 20 presentation to the Flagler County Board of Commissioners by John Ulsamer, Library Board of Trustees chairman, though, e-books aren’t the only thing changing at the facility.
Facing increasing demand, he wrote in the library’s 2011 annual report, the county’s current facility in Palm Coast is too small. He said a 3,600- to 9,000-square-foot expansion may be necessary until traffic near Town Center requires that another building be constructed in eight to 10 years.
In his report, Ulsamer outlined the implications of tackling a larger construction project.
“The cost (of building a new library) is expected to be considerable enough,” he wrote, “that the county would find it difficult to afford.” “Significant” grants and fundraising drives would be required to make it feasible, he added.
Still, architectural design for a new building is budgeted in the 2012 fiscal year. “This will allow us to get a firmer estimate of construction costs,” he said.
The report also recapped improvement projects completed in 2011. In April, new automatic and theft-detection systems went live at the library. The new theft system also incorporated self-checkout capabilities at the facility.
In October, the Library Crime Watch Program was launched. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office now schedules daily walks on the premises, and security cameras were also installed, all through volunteerism and grant funding.
A new gazebo and a café are also planned.
Ulsamer credits much of the library’s success to its volunteers. A total of $629,000, he said, is estimated to have been contributed to the library from the Friends of the Library, and volunteers, from 2001 to 2010.
BY THE NUMBERS
Library Board of Trustees Chairman James Ulsamer presented the library’s 2011 annual report Feb. 20 to the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners. Some of the statistics were as follows:
$28 Cost to library per e-book, which is almost twice the fee for a hardcover bestseller.
6 The number of capital projects planned for 2012, including the construction of a new gazebo, the creation of a teen study area and café, exterior painting, window sealants and lighting replacements on the parking lot’s east side.
$629,000 The amount contributed to the library from 2001 to 2010, from the Friends of the Library and volunteers.
16,441 The number of hours worked by volunteers last year, saving the county more than $300,000
$40,000 Amount generated annually through the library’s Passport Acceptance service
