SNOW HILL, Md. -- Worcester County Library staff are looking to install new shelves at their Snow Hill branch. The shelves haven't been replaced since the library opened its doors in 1975, and father time is starting to take a toll.
Mark Twain said, "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Unfortunately for the Snow Hill Library, Age is starting to matter, specifically the library's 50-year-old shelves.
"Over time it just gets worn and they start to just not work as well as they had in the past," said Jennifer Ranck, Director of Worcester County Libraries.
The shelves worked great during an era when ashtrays were common on corner tables inside the library. A few decades later, that's no longer the case.
"Books are much heavier than people think and they start to do this little maneuver," said Brittney Herz, the Snow Hill Library Branch Manager, pointing to shelves that have gone a bit off-kilter. "You can see it on that guy, this guy is a little slanted too."
The library is looking to install all new shelves. This endeavor will cost nearly $200,000 in supplies and labor. A good chunk of that money could come from a library-dedicated fund set up by the town of Snow Hill.
Ranck said they have some ideas for gathering the rest of the needed money.
"We do have some funds in reserve for the project and we'll be doing some fundraising as well, we have a fundraiser planned for this June," said Ranck.
Library staff asked the town of Snow Hill for roughly $109,000 from the dedicated fund. Town leaders are expected to decide on that request at their meeting next Tuesday.