By Debbie Rogers
The library will have a fresh look in the coming months.
At Monday’s meeting, Wood County District Public Library Director Michael Penrod said that $600,000 in improvements are underway. They include a heating plant upgrade, which is $300,000.
“It’s important to maintain the buildings entrusted to us by the taxpayer,” he said.
The library building on North Main Street and parking lot are 20 years old. The library acquired the Carter House in 2013.
“There’s just things to take care of,” Penrod said.
Also in the works is replacing the flat roof of the library. They will also be repairing an “unexplained roof leak” in the front of the library.
“They may have found a design failure from the building 20 years ago,” Penrod said.
Carpeting is being replaced in the teen and circulation areas. The former tech lab on the second floor is getting new carpet and paint.
On the outside, the public will notice the parking lot, which is being redone, coinciding with the new city building project.
“When they take down old city building — it is much taller than the (former) senior center was, so they need a larger drop zone for debris,” Penrod said. “They have to have room to take that building down safely.”
The new city building, which has the facade of the former senior center, is opening next month. The old city building will then be torn down for more parking.
The northern half of the library parking lot — about 15 spaces — on North Church Street will close Aug. 1 and stay closed through the end of October, Penrod said.
Patrons may still park in the southern part of the lot and across the street in the Carter House lot.
“We’re going to be tight on parking,” Penrod said.
In October, the entire library parking lot will close as it’s grounded down, repaved and reconfigured.
“It’s a good partnership,” Penrod said of working with the city, adding that some drainage issues will be fixed.
Some trees will also be taken down and replaced, he said.
Also at the meeting, the board:
• Heard that Novel Night, the library’s annual fundraiser, is set for July 20 at the Veterans Memorial Building at City Park. Sponsors are still needed, Penrod said.
• Heard Penrod thank the Friends of the Library, which gave $10,000 for materials last year for the Children’s Place collections. They also did a $4,000 sponsorship for Novel Night and gave $6,900 for the summer reading program.
“This small, under-the-radar group has an impact,” he said. “They’ve done a lot of good things for a long time.”
• Heard there are 1,200 participants in the summer reading program; this includes Walbridge. There are 65 “volunteens.”
• Heard from Michele Raine, deputy director, that an adult collection of materials is being added at the Cocoon, a domestic violence shelter in Bowling Green. There is already a children’s collection there, but this will add some adult items, including fiction and non-fiction.
