Patrons Get 'Sneak Peek' At New Library
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Just like much of Warsaw Community Public Library's efforts to expand over the past six years, Sunday's sneak peek preview into the new addition proved challenging, but ultimately worthwhile.
The "VIP Dusty Shoe" open house attracted several hundred people who checked out most of the 28,000 square feet of the new building, but only after library employees put in a long day Saturday making final adjustments.
On top of that, workers installing the fire alarm and sprinkler system Saturday were unable to finish the project. As a result of a fire code technicality, three firemen attended the open house in case of any emergency.
What they and others found was a pristine structure that some envision as the community's cultural center of the future.
The building's interior is highlighted by a wide-open area in the upper level that will house the library's fiction and nonfiction collections. The room features a long barrel ceiling over the middle of the room and cherry stained columns flanking both sides.
The new library, which had been sought for nearly a decade and became a battle ground with a group of taxpayers, will have plenty of amenities. It will include enough space to triple the number of seats for casual reading from 52 to nearly 150. An entire room has been dedicated for the growing video collection, and the library will offer an array of new computer capabilities.
But what really excites Bob Gephart, former library board president who now oversees the Friends of the Library organization, is the meeting room that can accommodate up to 150 people.
"It's obvious we feel we have a lot of potential," Gephart said.
"I'm looking forward to having a lot of different programs in our meeting room," Gephart said. "We're talking about artists coming in, we're talking about authors ... Lots of speakers," he said.
Sunday's event comes on the brink of the final phase of the massive project in which library employees and volunteers will begin moving books, computers and furniture from the old into the new portion while the old portion is renovated.
The transition began this morning and will continue through the week. The library is closed until Dec. 1 while staff prepares the new building for use.
The entire project will be complete in about six months.
Among those invited to the open house were those who provided private donations that helped ensure the expansion was bigger than originally planned with tax dollars.
Sunday's event was an opportunity to generate more interest in donations. So far, about $230,000 in donations has been generated.
Although the library has enough to finish the work, library director Ann Zydek said they still need money for some unexpected needs such as new conference tables and office work stations. [[In-content Ad]]
Just like much of Warsaw Community Public Library's efforts to expand over the past six years, Sunday's sneak peek preview into the new addition proved challenging, but ultimately worthwhile.
The "VIP Dusty Shoe" open house attracted several hundred people who checked out most of the 28,000 square feet of the new building, but only after library employees put in a long day Saturday making final adjustments.
On top of that, workers installing the fire alarm and sprinkler system Saturday were unable to finish the project. As a result of a fire code technicality, three firemen attended the open house in case of any emergency.
What they and others found was a pristine structure that some envision as the community's cultural center of the future.
The building's interior is highlighted by a wide-open area in the upper level that will house the library's fiction and nonfiction collections. The room features a long barrel ceiling over the middle of the room and cherry stained columns flanking both sides.
The new library, which had been sought for nearly a decade and became a battle ground with a group of taxpayers, will have plenty of amenities. It will include enough space to triple the number of seats for casual reading from 52 to nearly 150. An entire room has been dedicated for the growing video collection, and the library will offer an array of new computer capabilities.
But what really excites Bob Gephart, former library board president who now oversees the Friends of the Library organization, is the meeting room that can accommodate up to 150 people.
"It's obvious we feel we have a lot of potential," Gephart said.
"I'm looking forward to having a lot of different programs in our meeting room," Gephart said. "We're talking about artists coming in, we're talking about authors ... Lots of speakers," he said.
Sunday's event comes on the brink of the final phase of the massive project in which library employees and volunteers will begin moving books, computers and furniture from the old into the new portion while the old portion is renovated.
The transition began this morning and will continue through the week. The library is closed until Dec. 1 while staff prepares the new building for use.
The entire project will be complete in about six months.
Among those invited to the open house were those who provided private donations that helped ensure the expansion was bigger than originally planned with tax dollars.
Sunday's event was an opportunity to generate more interest in donations. So far, about $230,000 in donations has been generated.
Although the library has enough to finish the work, library director Ann Zydek said they still need money for some unexpected needs such as new conference tables and office work stations. [[In-content Ad]]