This is a branch library in one of the poorer parts of an already depressed town, so they are wanting to use it as more of a free community activity center, and the community it’s in will need it.
The library is not gigantic. It was formerly a funeral home. But they did an amazing job fixing it up.
Some of the features this library has or will have soon:
- A test kitchen with restaurant-grade equipment.
- A workshop with a tool library for lending.
- A clean-up room featuring a washer, dryer and shower free for use.
- A playground and splash pad for kids.
- A huge patio deck for reading, relaxing or whatever else you might want to do.
- Just a pleasant place to hang out.
And, of course, the expected things like a children’s area, meeting rooms, a teen area, a small computer lab and a small collection of books and DVDs.
Before you start complaining about how “libraries don’t have books anymore!” The book stacks are still a 10-minute drive/bus ride away at the downtown branch. The books aren’t going anywhere. Libraries are more than just books. They are one of the few places the community can get all sorts of resources and a place to access them for free
How many people did it take to get this done? It looks fantastic for something that is just getting started.
A large number. Construction crews, architects, all kinds of stuff. The funeral home it used to be had to be gutted and remodeled. They had to do stuff like get rid of the embalming fluid smell in the basement. Plus all the permitting and stuff. She only told me a bit about it and because it’s been such an exhausting process, I haven’t really pressed her on details unless she offers them.
I do know that there was such a rush to get it open by yesterday that my wife was out doing things like spreading gravel with the maintenance people to get it done in time.
Well a hearty well done to everyone involved. And thank you for showing it to us. It is refreshing to see examples of people building up their community when the majority of news focuses on negative events.