RSS Feeds
Contact Us |
|
|||||||||||||
News » Regional
Article rated a 0
by 0
users |
Drew Beatty, age three, sits with his mom, Jenny, and Karlee Fuelling, also age three, at left, at the Independence Public Library Wednesday. Though open to patrons already, the library is having it's grand opening Sunday.
(BRANDON POLLOCK/Courier Staff Photographer)
~ADVERTISING~
Independence library opening set
By JOSH NELSON, Courier Staff Writer
INDEPENDENCE --- In this building, empty represents a good quality.
Bare tan metal shelving means potential --- more growth, more room and more reading. And more is exactly what residents wanted out of their new Independence Public Library.
The project was 30 years in the making and at one time pitted opposing sides against one another. Later, the idea brought them together in a community-wide fundraiser.
"It's just been a real blessing," said Jacque McTaggart, a library board trustee.
From 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, the library will hold its grand opening at 805 First St. E. The facility moved from the 111-year-old Munson Building, where the collection was maintained for nearly that same length of time.
The Munson Building had a number of shortcomings, least of which was a severe lack of space, said Laura Blaker, the library director.
"In the other building, you had to fight to pull a book off the shelf," Blaker said.
The building had three floors, but only one was available for library patrons. The others were closed because of fire safety concerns and lack of handicap accessibility. Available space was cut to 2,300 square feet. Beyond that, the building leaked.
The new space covers 14,200 square feet. Areas are carved out for young adults, children and four study rooms. There is also an adjoining community room for meetings and other events. The University of Iowa and Iowa State University football game was shown on a large screen there earlier this month.
The interior, Blaker said, was designed to have a "Barnes & Noble type atmosphere," where people want to stay and read.
The library has averaged more than 360 visitors a day since the opening in September --- a huge boost from the 140 in the former building.
For many, the favorite feature is the children's area, known as Flutterby after the five stained glass butterflies hanging from the ceiling. A yellow circular wall with two oddly shaped entrances --- one about waist high for children --- separates Flutterby from the library floor.
Blaker said crews had a hard time figuring out how to craft openings that weren't at a 90 degree angle on the rounded wall. But that's not the only thing off kilter. Inside are trio of windows tilted at various angles.
McTaggart said the town reached a stalemate during the past 30 years over the question of whether to renovate the Munson Building or build. In 2000, voters rejected a sales tax vote that would have funded construction.
"Neither side was giving," she said.
In 2006, friends of the library launched a fundraising drive to collect $3.1 million in donations and grants instead of using tax dollars.
Five months later, they reached their goals. More than 540 individuals donated money at some level; 281 businesses, organizations or families donated more than $500 each.
"The best thing about it is the number of people that made it possible," said Dick Engen, a City Council member who served on the capital campaign.
A foundation was set up to help buy books and put on programs.
Another $55,000 was set aside to defray the increased cost of running the building over the next three years.
Blaker said the annual budget is now at $222,000, an increase of about $49,000. She said the added money was due to a boost in funding from Buchanan County and the city of Independence.
The Munson Building, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places, won't sit vacant.
James Quinn, a former Independence resident living in Brooklyn, N.Y., purchased the property.
Quinn says he plans to remodel, put a business in the first level and turn the rest into a residence.
Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or
josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.
Bare tan metal shelving means potential --- more growth, more room and more reading. And more is exactly what residents wanted out of their new Independence Public Library.
The project was 30 years in the making and at one time pitted opposing sides against one another. Later, the idea brought them together in a community-wide fundraiser.
"It's just been a real blessing," said Jacque McTaggart, a library board trustee.
From 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, the library will hold its grand opening at 805 First St. E. The facility moved from the 111-year-old Munson Building, where the collection was maintained for nearly that same length of time.
The Munson Building had a number of shortcomings, least of which was a severe lack of space, said Laura Blaker, the library director.
"In the other building, you had to fight to pull a book off the shelf," Blaker said.
The building had three floors, but only one was available for library patrons. The others were closed because of fire safety concerns and lack of handicap accessibility. Available space was cut to 2,300 square feet. Beyond that, the building leaked.
The new space covers 14,200 square feet. Areas are carved out for young adults, children and four study rooms. There is also an adjoining community room for meetings and other events. The University of Iowa and Iowa State University football game was shown on a large screen there earlier this month.
The interior, Blaker said, was designed to have a "Barnes & Noble type atmosphere," where people want to stay and read.
The library has averaged more than 360 visitors a day since the opening in September --- a huge boost from the 140 in the former building.
For many, the favorite feature is the children's area, known as Flutterby after the five stained glass butterflies hanging from the ceiling. A yellow circular wall with two oddly shaped entrances --- one about waist high for children --- separates Flutterby from the library floor.
Blaker said crews had a hard time figuring out how to craft openings that weren't at a 90 degree angle on the rounded wall. But that's not the only thing off kilter. Inside are trio of windows tilted at various angles.
McTaggart said the town reached a stalemate during the past 30 years over the question of whether to renovate the Munson Building or build. In 2000, voters rejected a sales tax vote that would have funded construction.
"Neither side was giving," she said.
In 2006, friends of the library launched a fundraising drive to collect $3.1 million in donations and grants instead of using tax dollars.
Five months later, they reached their goals. More than 540 individuals donated money at some level; 281 businesses, organizations or families donated more than $500 each.
"The best thing about it is the number of people that made it possible," said Dick Engen, a City Council member who served on the capital campaign.
A foundation was set up to help buy books and put on programs.
Another $55,000 was set aside to defray the increased cost of running the building over the next three years.
Blaker said the annual budget is now at $222,000, an increase of about $49,000. She said the added money was due to a boost in funding from Buchanan County and the city of Independence.
The Munson Building, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places, won't sit vacant.
James Quinn, a former Independence resident living in Brooklyn, N.Y., purchased the property.
Quinn says he plans to remodel, put a business in the first level and turn the rest into a residence.
Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or
josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.
 |
More Stories from News » Regional
Due to the amount of spam and negative comments received, the Courier implement a registered-user system for participation in the comment portion of our site. In doing so, the Courier reserves the right to ban any user(s) at any time without notice if we feel they are not following the terms of agreement.
DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
~ADVERTISEMENT~
NEWS |
SPORTS |
COMMUNITY |
BUSINESS |
ENTERTAINMENT |
FEATURES |
OPINIONS |
OBITUARIES |
CLASSIFIEDS |
PRIVACY POLICY |
CONTACT US |
CARRIER PAGES
|