Sydney Ritchie (left) and Emilee Hinton, two students at Kellogg Community College, assist putting items onto the new shelving units at Lawrence Memorial District Library.
By Bruce Rolfe
Phase one of what the Lawrence Memorial District Library Board hopes will be three phases of improvements at the local library, was completed a little over a week ago.
The new improvements include new carpeting in the adult fiction and media room and in the Prairie Historical Society Room, approximately 28 new shelving units that contain 2851 titles in the adult fiction and media room, new paint on the walls and new LED lights in the adult fiction and media room, giving the room a much brighter look.
The library was closed four days while the improvements were taking place.
After the old book shelving units were removed, the computer terminals were re-arranged and the new book shelves were installed to meet ADA requirements.
Library Director Bill Lewis emphasized it was a joint effort between library volunteers and volunteers from the Prairie Historical Society to get the project done. He said volunteers from PHS moved everything off the floor to get the PHS room prepared to remove the old carpeting and install new carpeting. PHS volunteers then moved the items back into the room.
Library volunteers removed old shelving units, and moved items out of the adult fiction and media room into another area so the room would be ready to be painted, and have the new lights and carpet installed. When the improvements were completed, volunteers moved the new shelving units and other items that were in the room, back to their appropriate location.
Lewis said community members, Mary Jo and Mike Elwell, Roger and Patty Jenkins helped remove old shelving units. Lewis and his wife Marcia joined library volunteers Carol Brock Cook, Jamie Camp, Lydia Sizemore, and Cheryl Bates putting items back on the shelves. Lewis adds Andy Camp cut and repainted some of the new shelves.
Lewis said the library board worked hard at reducing cost. Besides the volunteers who helped remove items and then put items back in the two rooms, Lewis was able to get Emilee Hinton and Sydney Ritchie, two students from Kellogg Community College, to volunteer placing books and DVDs on shelves as well as help build some of the shelves for credit in a class at KCC.
“It was quite a community effort to make this happen. We’re very proud of that,” said Lewis.
What makes the new carpeting unique is they are commercial grade carpet squares that are made to last longer then standard carpet. Lewis said if a portion of the carpet is damaged, one or multiple squares can be replaced with new carpet squares.
Will Miller of Michigan Carpet and Tile installed the carpet.
While the improvements have been in place a short period of time, Lewis said the response so far has been positive.
“Most of our patrons who have come in have been very happy with it because it’s brighter, it looks fresh, it looks very homey,” observed the library director, who said the LED lights are ballist free and will bring an energy savings for the library.
Lewis said the library board established a budget of $12,000 for the project, however the total was close to $11,000. He said the Library Board will determine in the near future how the remaining funds will be used, but he said the board is leaning towards making other improvements in the same room. “That’s going to be cool for us because it’s going to be able to tie some things together for the community and do some different things that we haven’t been able to do in the past,” adds the library director.
Lewis said without the recently approved millage that established a district library, the library board would not have had the funding for the improvements.
The library director adds as all of the books were placed back on the new shelves, series numbers and the author were placed in the database.
“This is a process to grow to where it’s going to be easier for the patron to find it, easier for us to find it, easier for us to handle it. We will grow with the new stuff,” explained Lewis, who adds titles in the database will also note if the book was a Pulitzer Prize Winner or Calder Cup winner.
“That’s the real thing that we’re trying to do, is make sure that we’re looking ahead, looking to where we’re at, trying to find space,” said Lewis, who said the new shelving units did allow the library some additional space for more titles.
Lewis said the children, juvenile and young adult and adult non-fiction rooms in the library will be phase two and three of the remodeling project.
In other library news, Lewis said the next author night is May 8 at 6:30 p.m. featuring an author from Battle Creek to talk about his book. The library is also currently in the middle of its reading program in conjunction with the Battle Creek Battle Jacks, however kids can still sign up. See details at the library.
Lewis adds there are six movie in the park nights planned this year.
Phase one of what the Lawrence Memorial District Library Board hopes will be three phases of improvements at the local library, was completed a little over a week ago.
The new improvements include new carpeting in the adult fiction and media room and in the Prairie Historical Society Room, approximately 28 new shelving units that contain 2851 titles in the adult fiction and media room, new paint on the walls and new LED lights in the adult fiction and media room, giving the room a much brighter look.
The library was closed four days while the improvements were taking place.
After the old book shelving units were removed, the computer terminals were re-arranged and the new book shelves were installed to meet ADA requirements.
Library Director Bill Lewis emphasized it was a joint effort between library volunteers and volunteers from the Prairie Historical Society to get the project done. He said volunteers from PHS moved everything off the floor to get the PHS room prepared to remove the old carpeting and install new carpeting. PHS volunteers then moved the items back into the room.
Library volunteers removed old shelving units, and moved items out of the adult fiction and media room into another area so the room would be ready to be painted, and have the new lights and carpet installed. When the improvements were completed, volunteers moved the new shelving units and other items that were in the room, back to their appropriate location.
Lewis said community members, Mary Jo and Mike Elwell, Roger and Patty Jenkins helped remove old shelving units. Lewis and his wife Marcia joined library volunteers Carol Brock Cook, Jamie Camp, Lydia Sizemore, and Cheryl Bates putting items back on the shelves. Lewis adds Andy Camp cut and repainted some of the new shelves.
Lewis said the library board worked hard at reducing cost. Besides the volunteers who helped remove items and then put items back in the two rooms, Lewis was able to get Emilee Hinton and Sydney Ritchie, two students from Kellogg Community College, to volunteer placing books and DVDs on shelves as well as help build some of the shelves for credit in a class at KCC.
“It was quite a community effort to make this happen. We’re very proud of that,” said Lewis.
What makes the new carpeting unique is they are commercial grade carpet squares that are made to last longer then standard carpet. Lewis said if a portion of the carpet is damaged, one or multiple squares can be replaced with new carpet squares.
Will Miller of Michigan Carpet and Tile installed the carpet.
While the improvements have been in place a short period of time, Lewis said the response so far has been positive.
“Most of our patrons who have come in have been very happy with it because it’s brighter, it looks fresh, it looks very homey,” observed the library director, who said the LED lights are ballist free and will bring an energy savings for the library.
Lewis said the library board established a budget of $12,000 for the project, however the total was close to $11,000. He said the Library Board will determine in the near future how the remaining funds will be used, but he said the board is leaning towards making other improvements in the same room. “That’s going to be cool for us because it’s going to be able to tie some things together for the community and do some different things that we haven’t been able to do in the past,” adds the library director.
Lewis said without the recently approved millage that established a district library, the library board would not have had the funding for the improvements.
The library director adds as all of the books were placed back on the new shelves, series numbers and the author were placed in the database.
“This is a process to grow to where it’s going to be easier for the patron to find it, easier for us to find it, easier for us to handle it. We will grow with the new stuff,” explained Lewis, who adds titles in the database will also note if the book was a Pulitzer Prize Winner or Calder Cup winner.
“That’s the real thing that we’re trying to do, is make sure that we’re looking ahead, looking to where we’re at, trying to find space,” said Lewis, who said the new shelving units did allow the library some additional space for more titles.
Lewis said the children, juvenile and young adult and adult non-fiction rooms in the library will be phase two and three of the remodeling project.
In other library news, Lewis said the next author night is May 8 at 6:30 p.m. featuring an author from Battle Creek to talk about his book. The library is also currently in the middle of its reading program in conjunction with the Battle Creek Battle Jacks, however kids can still sign up. See details at the library.
Lewis adds there are six movie in the park nights planned this year.
Pictured above are some of the new shelving units that were installed in Lawrence Memorial District Library.
(Photo by Bruce Rolfe)
(Photo by Bruce Rolfe)
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