It’s Capital Campaign Month A look at the past and future of the Pell City Public Library, including how to support local efforts to expand
Published 9:30 am Thursday, January 14, 2016
- Members of the Library Guild, Library staff, and the City gathered in the future home of the Pell City Public Library. Photo by Jeff Thompson.
This month, the Pell City Library Guild is making a massive push to finalize preparations for relocation.
The Guild has named January 2016 Capital Campaign Month and, with help from the community, its members hope to finish raising funds to outfit Pell City Library’s new space in the future Pell City Municipal Complex. Of their $300,000 goal, members have already collected $225,000, which will cover the cost of additions like furniture and shelves. However, they said the remaining $75,000 is just as important, as it will prepare the library — and the community— for the future.
Learn more at pellcitylibrary.com
As the library moves on, what does it leave behind?
While staff members are eager to move into the more spacious and contemporary structure, they won’t soon forget the building that held the library for decades.
In the 1950s, a small building was built on 1st Ave. North, in downtown Pell City. It was constructed to be the town’s post office, which it was, for almost two decades. In the 1970s, the building underwent an expansion and transformed into the Pell City Public Library.
The current space is around 4,500 square feet and contains approximately 35,000 books. The building holds a resemblance to a typical Mill Village home, but the inside is filled to the brim.
Special events, like storytime, Wild and Wonderful Wednesdays, books clubs and storytellers are held in the common areas. It offers personal computers for public use. There are genealogical and newspaper databases, downloadable eBooks in regular and PDF format. And, for teen authors, there are opportunities to submit their work online to potential publishers and critique the works of other authors.
The walls, literally, can barely contain it all.
Was change a necessity?
In 2014, the Library reported that 77,658 books and ebooks were checked out. Beyond that, residents logged onto computers 33,000 times for job searches and educational work. In addition, 2,400 families had access to Wi-Fi. This continual growth in activity drove the push for a new facility, which has been discussed for more than a decade.
“With an ever growing population, the Pell City Public Library was drastically reduced to basic services because of space constraints,” Stewart said. “Now, the staff and other library entities are ready to plan the next phase of library services for the greater Pell City area.”
The upcoming change of location provides the library with a setting to evolve in. The building was purchased by the City for $1 million, and will become the Pell City Municipal Complex, immediately housing the library and Chamber of Commerce. The City Council approved contracts for approximately $2 million in work to complete the building.
Of course, the new building offers a modern and fresh interior, but one of the major changes is the amount of books it can hold. The 12,000-square-foot space can hold almost double the current amount, with a capacity of up to 60,000 books. The new library will be roughly three times the size of the current one.
City officials have been working closely with the Library Guild to make the new location a possibility.
“The City has been integral throughout the process,” Guild Capitol Project Chairman Laurie Regan said. “They have been our partner in everything and have been hugely supportive.”
What do donations support?
All that support has helped make the Guild members vision come to fruition, and this spring the library will trade in its one-story, red brick building for a contemporary space with large windows and room to grow. The open concept interior is designed to have a whimsical feeling, complimented by the central feature in the children’s section – a metal tree that reaches to the ceiling, with branches climbing above the section.
More improvements include a teen room, craft room, Guild Office, study rooms, a conference room and more. Having designated spaces will allow events like storytime to be separated, instead of meeting in the main library like they are in the current layout.
Funds The Guild has already raised will cover the price of the refurbishments, furnishings and everything else that’s needed with the exception of an important piece — technology.
“We recognize and adapt to the changing needs of society by embracing technology to remain a vital part of our community, DeMotte said.”
The new facility’s 12,000 square feet will allow different groups of different ages to pursue their respective interests and educational opportunities, and much of it includes introductions to new technology. The Guild wants to make computers, laptops, smart TV monitors and software upgrades available to the public in higher quantities. But the most ambitious of their goals is to add a 3D printer at the new library.
Although this list has a high price tag, the goal is well within reach. The Guild is asking for the community’s support during Capital Campaign Month to acquire these final pieces.
One can donate through the library’s website, by visiting pellcitylibrary.com or in person. Donations beyond fees, $50, include guild membership and are tax deductible.
Members of the guild receive early notifications of the library’s calendar, assist in fundraising, and long term strategic planning. There are also many opportunities to support the community by volunteering in programs such as storytime, computer classes for seniors, children and teen book clubs and more.
For more information, call (205) 884-1015.
