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Library director urges immediate electrical repairs to restore West Biloxi Library services
Summary
Harrison County Library director told the council that fixing electricity would allow the West Biloxi Library to resume services without moving 30,000 books; residents and councilors pressed for clarity on quotes, maintenance history and priorities amid a $307,000–$370,000 repair estimate.
Sarah Ruski, director of the Harrison County Library System, urged Biloxi leaders to prioritize electrical repairs at the West Biloxi Library so services — including computer access and summer reading — could resume without relocating the library's 30,000‑volume collection.
"If the electricity is fixed, then we don't have to move the books," Ruski said, noting that moving and storing tens of thousands of volumes would be costly and would disrupt programs that serve children and residents who rely on library computers.
Council and staff described a layered maintenance history and differing cost estimates. City staff reported multiple years of maintenance spending at the West Biloxi branch — for example, figures cited for recent years included roughly $17,000–$18,000 in 2022 (branch‑specific), $141,000 in 2023 (HVAC and floors), $27,000 in 2024, and more limited outlays in 2025. Staff also said it could cost "just under $370,000" to restore electrical, roof, plumbing and ceiling work to bring the building fully up to standard.
Several residents and council members questioned the estimates and asked for transparency: how many quotes were obtained for the roof work, whether quoted costs were inflated, why repairs were not covered in prior bond requests, and whether an audit or itemized non‑departmental expenditure report could clarify prioritization decisions.
Citizens suggested interim options if immediate repairs are not feasible, including a mobile library or temporary computer access points to sustain services and summer reading programs. Council members urged staff to return with more detailed cost breakdowns, the number of contractor quotes, and a timetable so that the library system could plan summer programming.
Staff said no final decision had been made about moving books or boarding up the building and that they continue to evaluate electrical repairs, roof needs and ADA compliance. The director asked the council to act quickly so the library system can finalize plans for summer reading and other services.
Provenance: Library condition and staff maintenance figures appear in council reports and administration updates (SEG 447–SEG 506) and were amplified by the Harrison County Library director and multiple public commenters during citizen comments (SEG 1613–SEG 1746).
