Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 17, 1993 TAG: 9311170072
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Rick Lindquist
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
one thing, the new wing provides a lot more room for everybody and a place where kids can be kids and not bother other library patrons, Library Director Ann Fisher explained.
There's a separate room to accommodate the thrice-weekly story times for three-to-five year olds. When youngsters aren't using it, the room can double as a public meeting room.
The new addition also includes a small, computer-and-laser-printer-equipped room for folks who need silence or solitude to work. Fisher calls it the "literacy classroom" because the Literacy Volunteers plan to use it for their adult reading program. It's available by reservation.
A typing room also was added within the original library.
"We have several places you can go if you want quiet," said Fisher, who's looking forward to a little peace and quiet herself now that the construction dust is starting to settle.
In fact, no one would blame Fisher and her staff if they never wanted to look at another book again, especially after they moved the entire 65,000-item collection at least twice.
"We were about on our faces," she said, pointing out that books must be kept in shelf order when they're moved.
Visitors familiar with the old setup may be confused at first by the new layout.
"Pretty much everything's in a different place," said Fisher.
But she said those who had stopped in since the expanded library reopened on the first of the month have been impressed by the spaciousness. And by the floor-to-ceiling windows on the wing's east end.
Not to mention the new carpeting throughout the entire library, which Fisher says "ties things together."
Old and new blend pretty well, both outside and inside, but some planned refurbishing fell victim to cost-cutting. For instance, the old section still has its original, late-1970s vintage gold wall coverings. The children's wing was done in classic white.
And while the library can accommodate more people, the number of parking places outside remains the same, about 30.
"It's something the customers ask about a lot," she said.
Fisher's staff will not grow with the expansion either. There are five full- time library staffers and another seven part-timers. One of the three people on-duty now will be stationed in the new wing.
"We're spread pretty thin," said Fisher.
Those checking out books or other library materials must come to the same main desk, however. There's still just one computerized check-out terminal because adding another would have meant replacing the entire system and cost too much, Fisher explained.
A proposed portico over the side entrance next to the parking lot - which Fisher calls "the de facto main entrance" - also never made it past the drawing board. But, most patrons will continue to come in that way.
To make it more of a main entrance, a second set of glass doors has been added to isolate the library proper from the lobby area, where the restrooms are and where youngsters often wait to be picked up by parents.
Despite the few compromises, Fisher said she's delighted with the new wing and the fact that it became reality with "humble funding," a little over $350,000.
The city received a Library Services Construction Grant of about $122,000 and put another $175,000 of its own money toward the project. The Lamplighters, a volunteer library support and fund-raising group, raised $54,000.
The resulting facility - now nearly 14,000 square feet in all - is a far cry from the days when the library consisted of several cramped rooms at the city's recreation center across First Street.
Judging from past statistics, Radford residents will make good use of it. Last year, the library chalked up nearly 161,000 visits, while circulation was more than 115,100. The number of library card holders - 11,560 - nearly matches the city's entire population.
"All things considered, I think it went pretty smoothly," Fisher said.
A formal dedication ceremony for the new wing is set for today at noon. Virginia State Librarian John Tyson will be the keynote speaker.
by CNB