After the previous library building sustained damage in the April 27 storms, the city is exploring its options for a new, permanent location for the library.

“I know a lot of folks have got a lot of opinions and ideas where the library should go. Really, I don’t think there are any bad ideas, but we are in a downturn economically, the whole country is, and I’d like to be able to please everyone with this but it’s just not going to be possible to do that,” said Mayor Lanis White during a special called city council meeting Friday.

The city has been presented with two options: build a new, free-standing building for the library, or renovate the current City Hall building to accommodate the library, using part of the existing city council chambers.  

Councilmembers showed more interest in the prospects of building a free-standing building, which has a preliminary price tag of $440,000. However, White said once the location and specs of the building are decided upon, the cost estimate could change significantly.  

But, the biggest question remains where to put it. According to White, the options currently on the table consist of rebuilding in its former location in downtown Ragland, across the street from the high school, on the existing municipal complex property near City Hall, or on approximately half an acre of land that Ragland resident Richard Kohler volunteered to donate for the project.

There are still many decisions to be made in the process, and the city council will meet again at 4 p.m. tomorow to discuss the issue further.