Get ready to see some dust flying at the McDonald County Library's Pineville branch. Renovations are underway. The changes will be to the community room, patron restroom and circulation desk.
McDonald County Library Director Amy Wallain explained how the project got started. In the spring, she said, the library hosted a business leaders' breakfast to celebrate National Library Week at the Southwest City branch. It invited business leaders to hear about the library and make connections. The library board members were surprised by how many people had not been to the Southwest City branch, and they received a lot of compliments on how beautiful the building is and what an asset it is to the community, Wallain said. That sparked a conversation at the next board meeting about the future of Pineville.
"This branch opened in 1984 and basically has the same layout, fixtures ... Not a lot has changed inside in the last 30-plus years. So using Southwest City as our inspiration, the board started looking deep into what we could do to improve Pineville and make it ready for the years to come."
The board connected with an expert, Robert Dillon of University City, who specializes in creating learning spaces that are most effective, Wallain said.
"He's worked a lot with schools and school libraries. But last spring he offered to come down and take a look at a public library," she said. "The board and I were able to talk with him in a meeting and explore the space we have. Without adding on, we wanted to know how we could make changes for the positive."
Some of his suggestions centered on safety and security, which involved making more areas visible for staff to monitor. He suggested lowering some of the shelving and opening up some areas for better visibility. After talking with Dillon, the board also wants to create an open space so that the library can be a community gathering place, "because we want it to be inviting for people to sit and stay a while, maybe connect with others in the community and maybe enjoy some of the programs the library has to offer," Wallain said.
"We took his suggestions," she added. "The board is amazing and very focused on seeing a project through to completion."
Phase one of renovations to the Pineville branch will involve renovating the community room and the patron restroom.
A new set of glass double doors will be installed in the wall of the community room that faces the inside of the library, allowing staff to be able to see into the room.
"We want to use that area for library purposes and not just have it closed off for special events," Wallain said, noting part of the library's collection will be kept there.
A wall will be added inside the room, separating the community room from a new storage area and break room. The room will also receive new flooring, ceiling and lights, Wallain said. The patron restroom will be renovated to be wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant and will have new flooring and a sink and mirror, she said.
The library has also been approved for a grant for $11,115 to replace its circulation desk, which is not wheelchair accessible, Wallain said.
"It all is working together to create a new, updated spot in our library. It really is working out wonderful," she said.
The grant is also covering other items. The card catalog computer is at a stand-up desk, which is not wheelchair accessible. The grant will fund two tablets with an adjustable floor stand that will house the tablets, Wallain said. The tablets will replace the current card catalog computer.
The grant will also fund six Chrome Books, with a cart for recharging.
"Currently we have desktop computers, but now patrons will have the choice to use this mobile device anywhere in the library," Wallain said.
The grant is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the office of the Secretary of State.
"We're very excited," Wallain said of the renovations. "Nothing has changed in here since 1984, so it was time."
General News on 09/06/2018