Clinton's Quisenberry Library to reopen Monday following agreement with board

The city of Clinton's Quisenberry Library will reopen Monday, following the town board's approval of a lease with the Jackson Hinds Library System.

The board voted 6-0 Thursday night to approve a modified and outstanding lease with the system, which Mayor Phil Fisher previously refused to accept. 

Fisher said the city and JHLS came to terms on several lease items, including naming rights of the building and ownership of all furniture, fixtures, equipment and artwork purchased by the city, valued at just over a quarter of a million dollars. 

Meanwhile, the city's Public Works Department has been plugging sewer line leaks since July 13, when the library shut down to the public. The city's director of communication, Mark Jones, said the work, which turned out to be more comprehensive than first thought, should be completed by Friday afternoon. 

It's been more than eight years since the city and JHLS have inked a lease agreement. 

"I'm pleased to have a lease agreement in place that protects both the city of Clinton and Jackson Hinds Library System and their assets, while also providing new opportunities for the library to be enjoyed by the public," Fisher said. 

Jones said the city is considering bringing in a coffee and juice bar into the library, upgrading the security system and providing yearly fire suppression system tests to comply with city ordinance. 

JHLS oversees 14 libraries in the Jackson and Hinds County area. Several of those have structural issues. The Charles Tisdale Library on Northside Drive has been permanently closed because of black mold.