Your Library Connection
 

FAQ about the New Library

Well, the new library building is really taking shape and questions about the building and its opening are increasing all the time!  I am getting more excited by the day as the inside begins to look more and more like a wonderful library for our community.  I know that I’m not alone as others continue to share their excitement about the project!  

Where is the new library?
The new library is located at 805 First St. East.  It is a wonderful location next to the Lee Mansion and Cedar Valley Hospice with beautiful oak trees on the front lawn.

Will the library be closed for a period of time?
Yes.  The current library will probably close around the beginning of August.  Much has to be done…materials, office equipment, etc. need to be moved to the new facility.  Shelving will be installed and furniture placed in the building.  A computer network, software, phone system, and other technology will be set up.  Staff training and organization of work areas will need to take place.  For the best service and access to information, the library board and staff want to be organized and ready when the doors of the new library open to the public.

How are you moving all those books?
With lots of muscles and sweat!!  To be a little more specific…materials from different sections of the library will be boxed by volunteers, color-coded, and numbered.  On the weekend of the big move, teams of volunteers will move the boxes to vehicles, transfer them to the new library, and more volunteers will take the boxes to the appropriate sections (color-coded again) and place them on the shelves.   We have had many offers of people to help with the move and appreciate that very much!  We don’t have all your names, so there will be a notice in the paper and on the website when the time gets closer.

Is there enough money to pay for the building?
Thanks to the generosity of our citizens, the city, the county, and several large grants, it looks as though our funding situation will turn out fine.  Pledges are coming in as promised.  We are still accepting donations, and these will be recognized on a special donor wall at the level of $500 and up if they are pledged by June 20th.  Additional donations could result in more and better furniture, additional technology, and additions to the materials collection (books, DVDs, audio books).  If you are interested in donating to the new building, please call Laura at 334-2470 or contact a library board member. 

What is happening to the current library?
The current library, or Munson Building, will be sold with proceeds going to the new library.  It is a multiple listing, so contact any realtor in Independence if you are interested. 

When are you moving and can I help?
We hope to move the books, audio books, DVDs, etc. in August.  We would love to have your help.  There will be a notice in the paper as the time gets closer so that you can contact the library and get on our volunteer list.  If you want to let us know sooner than that, call Laura at 334-2470 or e-mail indylib@indytel.com so I can put your name on our list and contact you when the move is near.

What is that green building in the back?
That is the part of the library that will house the children’s and teen sections.  The architect designed the new building to work with the Lee Mansion.  Consider the Lee Mansion as the home on an estate, the brick portion of the library to be the carriage house, the glass portion to be the modern link, and the green part in the back to be the barn.  This may help you to understand the three main parts of the new library.  There are pictures on the website of the interior and exterior.

How big is it?
The public space in the new library is 14,200 square feet.  This is over six times the size of our current library.  So, relative to what we are used to it is huge!  Relative to other communities our size in Iowa building new libraries, it is in the appropriate size range, but not above average.

When will the new library be open?
No date has been set for the opening of the new library.  We are currently estimating that it will be in September. 

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