The new LULA elevator at Warsaw Community Public Library is available for public use.
At the library board meeting Monday, Library Director Ann Zydek said she and Facility Supervisor Bruce Hively met with Jeff Kumfer, co-owner of SRKM Architecture LLC, and discussed what was happening with the LULA (limited use/limited application) elevator.
For the entry lighting, she said they were able to bring in a lighting consultant – Kendall Electric – and will be working on a quote for changing the lighting to LED and add more light to the entryway.
On Friday, the state inspector visited the library, Zydek said, and LULA officially passed.
“When he left, he said, ‘you can finally let people know it can be used and is working,’” she said.
Since about 2017, the library’s LULA had issues and often would not work. The library board decided to replace it, and construction has been going on for months.
Zydek said she and a couple others have tried out the new LULA elevator.
“They say there will be a little bit of fine-tuning within the first 30 days of the hydraulics. Something about there’s a little air that might be in there,” she said, but it’s not a big concern.
Zydek said the elevator has been available for use since Friday.
“It’s quiet,” she said.
Also, Zydek said they looked at the library’s “deteriorating” parking lot. There’s cracks on the east side near the shed, and they’re going to have to investigate to see what needs to be done.
In addition to the normal repaving, which was in the library’s schedule to do this year, Zydek said the curbs might also need work.
Moving to another topic, Zydek said the library was starting to gear up for the Curiosity Dome. Assistant Director Joni Brookins will “do a lot of advertising” for the event.
Brookins said the library got grants from The Keys Foundation, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, and $500 from the Friends of the Library for the Dome event.
“That has helped fund a good portion of the costs for the Curiosity Dome, which, in case you didn’t know, is a planetarium-type thing. It’s a huge rubber dome that you go into and a movie is shown on the walls, the ceiling, all around you. It’s kind of an immersing experience,” Brookins said.
The movie to be shown is titled “Passport to the Universe,” which will tie in to the library’s summer reading program.
The dome will be in the children’s department upstairs because it will take up most of the space there.
“It’s a one-day only thing. Half-hour showings. Get your tickets at the adult desk. We can accommodate about 35 or so, kids through adults. You have to be able to sit on the floor,” Brookins said. “It’s going to be a fun experience. It’s going to be all day. Lots of kids, lots of crowds.”
Jill Beehler, board member, asked if people could get tickets now. Zydek said the tickets would be available the day of the event, June 10.
The dome could be slightly claustrophobic for adults, Zydek warned. A representative of the company that operates the dome – Matrix Entertainment – will be inside all day, she said.
The board watched a short video on the movie that will be shown in the dome.
In other business, the library board:
• Approved a letter to the county treasurer requesting an advance draw on the tax money to be distributed for 2019, as requested by Renee Sweeny, WCPL business manager.
Sweeny said the library usually gets the draw at the end of June, and that the library has taken advance draws in the past. The last time was 2013 or 2014.
“It’s just asking for what money has been received for taxes, and they figure it out and will send us an advancement. And then at the end of June, whatever’s left, we’ll get that check,” she said. “So we’re not getting more money, we’re just getting it a little bit earlier because I need a cushion.”
• Approved a patron code of conduct, and the elimination of a food and drink policy as it’s now included in the patron code of conduct.
