What have the Johnston County women accomplished that government won't do? They built our libraries.

Recent library building cost with land acquisition and designer's fees, with furniture - $1 million for every 2,000 sq. ft. [each container based bookmobile $15-30,000]. The container based bookmobile may be the only library building affordable in the future for Cleveland Township, without tax authorization [many bookmobile locations are affordable, if businesses and schools will permit them-see mobiles around schools now]. Cost of 50,000 books to buy and catalog - $35 each x 50,000 = $1,750,000 [Cleveland's cost to acquire the first 40,000+ books was about $24, plus $2,000 for labels, bar codes, tape, etc.] New books look pretty until they are checked out for the first time and used, then they are used books. Cleveland's initial books may look new or may have discard marker across their cover, may have dark edged pages with age and heat, may have some wrinkles, and all can be replaced with new books, when the money becomes available.

Bus based bookmobile cost is $345,000 Bus requires engine, drive train, wheels, which require maintenance, inspections, licenses, CDL licenses for drivers, and reduce shelving space Bus requires side and rear entrances, reducing shelf space Bus is rounded and does not use full 8' width or 40' length, particularly with the driver seat, dash, and engine space Slant library shelving cost $500-900 per 3' section Many bookmobiles can hold 2,000 books Bus lights and air conditioner require a generator with its additional maintenance

Container based unit cost $15,000-30,000 Container based unit requires a crane and driver with a truck bed to move and place it Container may use one entrance Container pushes the corners for an essential 8'x40' Community stick-built straight shelves cost about $70 each Container can hold 6-12,000 books Container will use local utility company for electric and DSL