Your Library Connection
 

Many Reasons to Check Out your New Public Library!

Construction of the Independence Public Library is complete and the beautiful, new facility opened September 10, 2008.  We will have the Grand Opening on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm.  The Grand Opening will be a community event including an opening ceremony with Christie Vilsack as our keynote speaker, a flag raising (weather permitting), and a ribbon cutting.  There will also be many entertainers and programs in the library following the opening ceremony.  Some of those include a Three Stooges Presentation, program about pirates, digital photography tips, a sign language class, character artists, magicians, balloon artists, and a face painter!     

            The new library is a dramatic, positive change for our community!  The old library was 2,341 square feet, and the new library is 14,200 square feet.  In the first four days the library was open, a record 1753 customers came through the doors in those 32 hours.  Some of the benefits of the new space are already very evident.  People have been using the library in ways they weren’t able to use the old facility.  For example, teens have been gathering in the teen area to study, read on the lounge furniture, and talk.  Kids have been thrilled with the story area, also known as Flutterby Cove.  They are so excited to have an inviting, bright space for reading and using their new interactive wall.  Adults love to have the options of comfortable lounge furniture, coffee, and a TV on CNN Headline news with closed captioning.  We had our first library program in the community room over the weekend, showing the Iowa/Iowa State game in Hi-Definition on our 8-foot screen.  The study rooms are already being checked out for small group and individual study.  Everybody is more easily able to access the building because the space is all on one level and there is room for growth.  

The library will provide much more in the way of recreation, culture, education, and entertainment.  Authors, artists, performers, and musicians will be brought to the library to do programs for people of all ages.  The library will provide an important third space (not work or home, but a place of comfort and a connection to community) for young adults and people of all ages.  There is additional technology access and wireless access as well.  The community room also provides the opportunity for community organizations and businesses to meet when the room is not being utilized for library programs.  One comment that I’ve already heard several times about the new facility is how wonderful it is to be able to have many different activities and events going on simultaneously without any taking away from the other.  For example, we can show a football game while people use computers, study in groups, browse books, read together, put together puzzles, watch TV, check out materials, and have a meeting.

            If you haven’t come to the new library, there are many reasons to come check it out!  See pictures of our first week open on our website, www.indylibrary.org.

Home  Pictures  Donations  Services   Calendar of  Events  Web and Reference Resources   Kids' Resources  New Books and Materials   Online Catalog   Community Resources  Library Connections  Friends of the Library