Springville will soon open the doors to a new library on the corner of Main and Center Street.
The city decided to replace the old library because of the size, condition and safety of the building. Construction of the new library across the street began June 2010.
“The library really was very overcrowded and a lot of the shelves were blocking lights and windows,” said Pamela Vaughn, director of the Springville Public Library. “There was no space to come and relax.”
[/media-credit]- Interior designer Greta Foster and volunteer Gene Hill prepare for the opening of the new Springville Library on Oct. 29.
The new library will provide just that. The cleanly designed building has refreshing colors, and is filled with lots of natural light. When open, it will have places for activity as well as for quiet, with plenty of room for patrons to linger.
Vaughn said the library is a nice, safe place for people to go no matter what age. She also said she is expecting an increase in the number of patrons.
“Hopefully it will invite a lot of people, who haven’t been to a library in a while, to come back and give it another try,” Vaughn said.
Library employees said they are excited about the improvements in the new library especially in the children’s section.
“It’s not designed to make it easy for us to shelve books, but for what is easiest for the patrons,” Vaughn said.
The books in the children’s section are shelved with the front cover facing out. After traveling to many different libraries around the country, Marilee Moon, the children’s librarian, saw that face-out books are the trend of libraries.
“Kids never pick the book by the spine,” Moon said. “They always look at the picture on the front.”
Moon said this is why she’s excited about the low book bins for picture books. Children will have easy access to books and be able to see the covers.
The whole library is meant to be user-friendly. Moon said it will be easier to see and find things in the new library.
A grand opening for the new library will be Oct. 29 at 9:30 a.m. After the opening ceremony, there will be a magic show, puppet shows, balloon artists and refreshments. Brandon Mull will give two presentations at 2 and 3 p.m. and will be available for book signings.
Residents of Springville and of nearby cities are looking forward to the new library.
Emily Sumsion, 21, from Springville, said she is excited for the new library.
“I think it’ll be a much more friendly and inviting environment,” she said.
Sumsion’s younger siblings helped pack up the books for the move across the street and are eager to visit the new library.
The old library will be torn down and the space will become a public park.
