Washington Evening Journal
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Additional space, additional services
Gift from patrons makes library expansion possible
By Winona Whitaker, Hometown Current
Oct. 26, 2023 6:22 pm, Updated: Nov. 3, 2023 10:05 am
NORTH ENGLISH — Expanding into a third section of a 1934 building downtown will allow the North English Public Library to increase services to the community.
The original library was established in 1934, said Library Director Annette Shannahan from the new office space last week. At first the library operated out of one section of the building at 123 South Main.
In 1989, the library expanded to the south section of the building. This year, with money left to the library by patrons Margaret Ann and Harold Greenlee, the library purchased the space to the north and is in the process of remodeling it.
The genealogy society had been renting the space from Dave Jackson, but when Jackson decided to sell, the genealogy society moved to Millersburg, said Shannahan.
“[Jackson] had it for sale for quite some time,” said Shannahan. “We thought that it would be a great opportunity to expand this way.”
The library is already hosting Lego Club, book clubs and children’s activities in the new space, though contractors aren’t quite finished with it.
The addition will give the library space for visiting authors and speakers and for family night movies, which it discontinued during COVID. Showing movies in the old sections of the library required that Shannahan move furniture to make room for people, she said.
Harold Greenlee died in 2016, and Margaret Ann in 2017. They left money to several organizations, including the library, said Vicki Oswald, president of the library board of trustees.
The couple had no children, said Shannahan, but Margaret Ann, a former teacher, felt strongly about giving children access to reading materials. Shannahan, who regularly delivers reading material to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, had taken books to Margaret Ann when she was in a care facility.
“They were very sweet people,” Shannahan said of the Greenlees.
The board used some of the money left to the library to finish the awning from a previous remodel and for youth award books, said Oswald. They thought the purchase of the property next door was another good way to use the Greenlee bequest “and get the benefit for many years,” said Shannahan.
The library board applied for the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust Grant to help pay for the remodel and is using Iowa County Community Foundation Grant funds to remodel a work room in the back, said Oswald.
Kerr Construction of Sigourney is the contractor for the project, said Shannahan. “He’s done a wonderful job of transforming the space.”
The building was gutted and rebuilt from the studs. Travis Murphy of Murphy Electrical Services did the wiring, and Dave Smith put in the furnace and plumbing, Shannahan said.
Netom Enterprises of Cedar Rapids put in the new windows, “which I think are just gorgeous,” Shannahan said.
The students in Lego Club are looking forward to watching the first snowfall outside that window. They told Shannahan it would be like looking at a snow globe.
Alan and Vicky Grimm donated two antique display cases for the addition, said Oswald. “They also paid to move them here.”
Volunteers have helped with the expansion project and patrons have been understanding when the library has had to close because of it. The community has been supportive, said Shannahan.
“We couldn’t do it without the community,” said Shannahan.
The new section has a ramp, but the library plans to install a new one. It has also installed two automatic doors for patrons with disabilities.
The library is open from 1-5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 1-6 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. .to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.