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'A Social Hub': Renovated library is packing them in
Journal Photo by Monte Mitchell
Stacy Greer goes with her daughters Sierra, 3, and Savannah, 5, on a library tour.
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Published: July 9, 2009
WEST JEFFERSON - Stacy Greer and daughters Savannah, 5, and Sierra, 3, were regular visitors to the old Ashe County Public Library, but looked in wonder at the newly visible mountain views and spacious atrium yesterday during their first visit to the renovated building.
"I think it's wonderful," said Greer. "It's really nice and spacious, and there's lots of fun stuff for the kids to see."
The library, long a hotspot for people to visit each other in rural Ashe County, has drawn record crowds since re-opening last week after a transformation that makes it nearly unrecognizable from the old library.
The library drew 732 visitors Monday, said library director Jim McQueen. The library typically drew more than 300 visitors a day, but has had more than 500 a day since it opened July 1.
"It is a social hub," McQueen said. "Now we've got all these wonderful spaces where people can come and spend a morning, a whole day, in an inviting, comfortable environment."
The library has more than doubled in size. The atrium slices through what was the former main level, and leads to a new expanded main level, while the steps lead to the new upper floor. A basement includes storage and meeting space.
The front parking lot always offered a view of downtown and Mount Jefferson, but now mountains can be seen from every window in the building.
The new rear entrance also offers an easy connection to the town playground and park behind the library. In front of the library, workers yesterday were pouring concrete on the path that connects the library to the town's Backstreet Park and new concert stage.
The prime location was one of the reasons library leaders made the decision to expand in place rather than build somewhere else. But for all its advantages, the former library had been in a zero-growth state since the 1990s because of limited space. If a new book came in, another had to go out.
Planning for the renovation began in 2000, before the economic downturn, and Ashe County committed to pay for $3.2 million for the renovation, which the county is paying for with 15-year loan. Despite the economy, in the past year, the library board and other volunteers have raised an additional $644,000 for equipment and furnishings, such as the 32 public-access computers, enough shelf space to meet needs for an estimated 20 to 30 years and comfortable chairs for visitors.
Construction began in the spring of 2008 when the library temporarily moved down the hill to Jefferson Station.
The library includes a new teen section, with a mural painted by teenagers, and a new section for tweens. The new children's area theme reflects the town's founding as a railroad stop and includes Stephen Shoemaker's mural, where children can easily spot a red caboose and search for such creatures as a snake, bear, deer and cardinals.
Librarian Laurie Baumgardner was swamped when patrons presented her with 146 reference questions in four days, but says she's thrilled to be working in such a nice, new library. "This is a love gift from Ashe County to Ashe County," she said.
■ Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal.com.
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