Your Library Connection

The First Year…Milestones and Highlights

·         The new Independence Public Library opened its doors on Sept. 10, 2008.  I’ve never witnessed so much anticipation!  After everything else was in place, we cleaned the nose prints off the outside of the windows and opened the library doors.  It was a joy to hear the comments…”Wow!  This is awesome!” “Cool!” and “Did you see this?” being common conversation on those first days.

·         Enjoying the library…what a welcome sight to see people spend more time than the necessary few minutes it takes to check out their materials or check email.  People browse, compute, sit in comfy chairs, read and enjoy the new, inviting facility!

·         The Grand Opening was a beautiful day with more than 700 people attending!  Christie Vilsack, face painters, caricatures, magic, balloons, cake balls, and a proud community provided an unforgettable day.

·         Erin Gruwell, bestselling author and renowned teacher, visits after a media blitz with her book, Freedom Writers’ Diary.  The event drew a standing room only crowd, and Gruwell stayed several hours later than planned to sign copies of her book for every person waiting in line.

·         The Independence Public Library receives the 2008 Independence Chamber of Commerce Award for Best Project of the Year.  I had the honor of accepting the award for the many, many people who made the new library a reality.

·         The library has averaged 112 new library cards being issued each month since we opened…to be exact, 1234 new cards from Sept. 10, 2008 to Aug. 1, 2009.  Also, visitors have almost doubled, with an 83% increase overall since opening!

·         The library vestibule gets a more artistic flair with the unveiling of John Paul Schafer’s large scale mural, “Open Books, Open Hearts, Open Minds.”  This public work of art will be a long standing tribute to freedom, reading, and the arts.

·         The library was able to hold many programs in the library.  There were many great programs, including the summer reading programs.  The library had record numbers of kids participating, plus teens were able to take part in a teen program for the first time.  557 kids participated in the reading program and over one thousand attended summer reading program events.

·         People traveled to see the Independence Public Library because they heard good things about it!  After years of visiting other libraries to get ideas and talk with those involved in the building process, the tables have turned and others are visiting our library to get ideas!

·         The Independence Public Library has just received official word that it is now accredited by the State Library of Iowa.  For years, the library was unable to receive accreditation because it was not handicap accessible.  Now the library has been able to meet that and other standards in areas of staffing, services, collection, and public relations to become accredited.   

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