Webster Library Dedicates New Facility Sunday
October 4, 2020 at 10:01 p.m.
By David [email protected]
It recognizes the people who gave anywhere from $1 to over $10,000 that made the new facility possible. Donors gave a total of over $858,000, according to NWCPL Board of Directors President Phil Metcalf.
On Sunday, the library held an invitation-only dedication ceremony for everyone who was involved in the building’s construction or who gave time, talent and treasure to make the dream a reality. The ceremony was followed by a public open house.
The dedication was the third ceremony for the library. A groundbreaking was July 31, 2019, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held July 13, 2020.
Sunday’s ceremony was opened by Library Director Helen Leinbach Frank, who is stepping down as director at the end of the year.
“Today marks the culmination of probably a five-year goal, if not, and we’re so grateful that each of you have come to celebrate this beautiful building with us,” Frank said.
North Webster American Legion Post chaplain and library employee Janette Stackhouse led the pledge of allegiance, followed by a prayer.
Before giving the prayer, Stackhouse said, “From the beginning of time, information has flourished and expanded to the point where we now live in a digital information age. But, there’s always been those who wanted to make that information available to everyone. From the very beginning, there’s been librarians.”
As part of her prayer, Stackhouse asked God to bless Frank. “Lord, you have guided her in the realization of her dream of this library. Now guide her in her new chapter of her life,” she said.
Metcalf then led the rest of the dedication ceremony.
“Helen is right. This is a culmination of a proud plan and a dream that started many, many years ago,” he said.
Metcalf said the new library was a team effort.
“So the purpose of today is to recognize each one of you that had a hand in making sure that this library came into fruition. So we want to be able to recognize each one of you and thank you for your contribution, whether it was man hours or money or physical work or whatever you did to make this library happen. We’re here to celebrate the final product,” he said.
He recognized the library’s board of trustees, who made sure what they did was the right thing for the library and community; Zac Kessie, from Michael Kinder & Sons, who guided the board on what they wanted to accomplish; and the North Webster Community Center for selling the property to the library.
Next, he thanked Michael Kinder & Sons for their help with bonding, finding contractors and an architect. The architect was Zach Benedict, who Metcalf said understood who the library was.
“There were little decisions that we made along the way. These little tiny decisions when you step back from the final product, you see how all those decisions fit together to create this building, such as the donor wall,” Metcalf said. “It was just an artist’s sketch. It looked nice, but we didn’t realize what kind of an impact that donor wall would have in the way it looked and how it was focal point for the library. (Benedict) got that.”
Given an opportunity to say a few words, Benedict said, “I think these type of events give too much credit to architects and contractors; no offense, gentlemen. What I’d like to do is thank Helen and her team.”
He said he does a lot of work with libraries all across the state and “these are stressful and complicated projects.”
“One of the last buildings in any community where there’s no reason you need to have to come to it. You’re not expected to buy anything, there’s no requirements to walk through the front door. In some ways, it’s our last democratic space. So from an architectural standpoint, that makes it a complicated challenge,” Benedict said.
He said the decisions Frank and her team had to make for the new library were no easy task and those were on top of their day jobs.
“I’ve never seen a group, I don’t think, work as well together, collaborate as well together, argue as well together to the point that all they really wanted to do was serve the community as effectively as they could. So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Helen, for letting us be a part of this project and this community is very, very lucky to have you on their team,” Benedict said.
Metcalf then spoke about the need to bond for the project and going to the Kosciusko County Council for that. Councilwoman Sue Ann Mitchell was able to help guide the library through that process, he said. He noted the state legislature also was very supportive of the project and recognized District 22 State Rep. Curt Nisly, who was present.
Almost 200 people so far gave donations totaling $858,000. There are 1,100 people in the town of North Webster and 5,000 in the township, Metcalf said.
“That’s just mind boggling. So all of you are to be thanked,” he said to the donors. “Because without you, this would not have happened. And I have to put a plug in: If your name is not up there, there’s still time.”
He then recognized the builders, MKS, and the contractors, including Brown & Brown. The construction manager was Tony Rosswurm from MKS.
Metcalf then thanked the library staff who still worked during the construction and provided curbside service during the coronavirus pandemic. They also helped pack the library materials in the old library and unpack them in the new library. “I can’t tell you how many trips we made back and forth,” he said. “... Our staff is what makes this library.”
The Friends of the Library provided a digital sign for the library along Ind. 13 and appliances for the kitchen. Wawasee Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Edington and the school system were recognized for their partnership with the library.
Finally, Metcalf recognized the “Queenpin”?of the library – Frank.
“Again, every library needs a Helen because she was the one here every day that had to deal with the different decisions that had to be made,” Metcalf said. “On a day-to-day basis, everything fell on her shoulders, and she’s still here.”
He then acknowledged that Frank was retiring at the end of the year and the board of directors was looking for her replacement, which will be big shoes to fill. Metcalf said the library board members will recognize Frank more later this year.
Metcalf noted North Webster had no library until 1978, and thanked the late Suzanne Shock for helping make that happen. A plaque recognizing Shock’s efforts hangs in the library near the donor wall. Her husband and family attended the dedication.
Metcalf then read the official dedication of the library. “May this facility provide many joyful years to come of reading, education, connectivity and resources for this community and the surrounding area,” it said, in part.
To conclude Sunday’s ceremony, Metcalf showed a video of the library’s construction from MKS that was condensed into 32 seconds.
It recognizes the people who gave anywhere from $1 to over $10,000 that made the new facility possible. Donors gave a total of over $858,000, according to NWCPL Board of Directors President Phil Metcalf.
On Sunday, the library held an invitation-only dedication ceremony for everyone who was involved in the building’s construction or who gave time, talent and treasure to make the dream a reality. The ceremony was followed by a public open house.
The dedication was the third ceremony for the library. A groundbreaking was July 31, 2019, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held July 13, 2020.
Sunday’s ceremony was opened by Library Director Helen Leinbach Frank, who is stepping down as director at the end of the year.
“Today marks the culmination of probably a five-year goal, if not, and we’re so grateful that each of you have come to celebrate this beautiful building with us,” Frank said.
North Webster American Legion Post chaplain and library employee Janette Stackhouse led the pledge of allegiance, followed by a prayer.
Before giving the prayer, Stackhouse said, “From the beginning of time, information has flourished and expanded to the point where we now live in a digital information age. But, there’s always been those who wanted to make that information available to everyone. From the very beginning, there’s been librarians.”
As part of her prayer, Stackhouse asked God to bless Frank. “Lord, you have guided her in the realization of her dream of this library. Now guide her in her new chapter of her life,” she said.
Metcalf then led the rest of the dedication ceremony.
“Helen is right. This is a culmination of a proud plan and a dream that started many, many years ago,” he said.
Metcalf said the new library was a team effort.
“So the purpose of today is to recognize each one of you that had a hand in making sure that this library came into fruition. So we want to be able to recognize each one of you and thank you for your contribution, whether it was man hours or money or physical work or whatever you did to make this library happen. We’re here to celebrate the final product,” he said.
He recognized the library’s board of trustees, who made sure what they did was the right thing for the library and community; Zac Kessie, from Michael Kinder & Sons, who guided the board on what they wanted to accomplish; and the North Webster Community Center for selling the property to the library.
Next, he thanked Michael Kinder & Sons for their help with bonding, finding contractors and an architect. The architect was Zach Benedict, who Metcalf said understood who the library was.
“There were little decisions that we made along the way. These little tiny decisions when you step back from the final product, you see how all those decisions fit together to create this building, such as the donor wall,” Metcalf said. “It was just an artist’s sketch. It looked nice, but we didn’t realize what kind of an impact that donor wall would have in the way it looked and how it was focal point for the library. (Benedict) got that.”
Given an opportunity to say a few words, Benedict said, “I think these type of events give too much credit to architects and contractors; no offense, gentlemen. What I’d like to do is thank Helen and her team.”
He said he does a lot of work with libraries all across the state and “these are stressful and complicated projects.”
“One of the last buildings in any community where there’s no reason you need to have to come to it. You’re not expected to buy anything, there’s no requirements to walk through the front door. In some ways, it’s our last democratic space. So from an architectural standpoint, that makes it a complicated challenge,” Benedict said.
He said the decisions Frank and her team had to make for the new library were no easy task and those were on top of their day jobs.
“I’ve never seen a group, I don’t think, work as well together, collaborate as well together, argue as well together to the point that all they really wanted to do was serve the community as effectively as they could. So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Helen, for letting us be a part of this project and this community is very, very lucky to have you on their team,” Benedict said.
Metcalf then spoke about the need to bond for the project and going to the Kosciusko County Council for that. Councilwoman Sue Ann Mitchell was able to help guide the library through that process, he said. He noted the state legislature also was very supportive of the project and recognized District 22 State Rep. Curt Nisly, who was present.
Almost 200 people so far gave donations totaling $858,000. There are 1,100 people in the town of North Webster and 5,000 in the township, Metcalf said.
“That’s just mind boggling. So all of you are to be thanked,” he said to the donors. “Because without you, this would not have happened. And I have to put a plug in: If your name is not up there, there’s still time.”
He then recognized the builders, MKS, and the contractors, including Brown & Brown. The construction manager was Tony Rosswurm from MKS.
Metcalf then thanked the library staff who still worked during the construction and provided curbside service during the coronavirus pandemic. They also helped pack the library materials in the old library and unpack them in the new library. “I can’t tell you how many trips we made back and forth,” he said. “... Our staff is what makes this library.”
The Friends of the Library provided a digital sign for the library along Ind. 13 and appliances for the kitchen. Wawasee Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Edington and the school system were recognized for their partnership with the library.
Finally, Metcalf recognized the “Queenpin”?of the library – Frank.
“Again, every library needs a Helen because she was the one here every day that had to deal with the different decisions that had to be made,” Metcalf said. “On a day-to-day basis, everything fell on her shoulders, and she’s still here.”
He then acknowledged that Frank was retiring at the end of the year and the board of directors was looking for her replacement, which will be big shoes to fill. Metcalf said the library board members will recognize Frank more later this year.
Metcalf noted North Webster had no library until 1978, and thanked the late Suzanne Shock for helping make that happen. A plaque recognizing Shock’s efforts hangs in the library near the donor wall. Her husband and family attended the dedication.
Metcalf then read the official dedication of the library. “May this facility provide many joyful years to come of reading, education, connectivity and resources for this community and the surrounding area,” it said, in part.
To conclude Sunday’s ceremony, Metcalf showed a video of the library’s construction from MKS that was condensed into 32 seconds.
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