Anyone who has meandered past 507 South Main Street in recent days has seen a hubbub of activity as the long-awaited transition from the 302 East Main Street location to the new 507 South Main Street location has begun.
As most recall, the new 507 South Main Street building has a total of approximately 12,900 square feet and was made possible through a grant from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA). The KDLA grant financing the project will provide $212,150 yearly for a total of 20 years to offset its cost. (Note some of those 20 years have already passed.) This much-awaited state grant provides the Library its first new construction facility since its inception in the late 20th Century. Total cost for the construction was approximately $4.1 million, a figure just slightly higher than what was projected in the Library’s KDLA grant application submitted in late 2021. Architect for the project was Gary Violette, a Todd County native and owner of Violette Architecture/Interior Design of Clarksville, Tennessee. Contractor for the facility was C&C Contracting, LLC of Russellville.
Last Wednesday, September 4, Gary Violette, Todd County Historian, transported 88 volumes of the Todd County Standard to the new 507 location. Those volumes span from 1928 through 2015. The bound volumes have now been shelved in chronological order in the new archive area of the library. Some volumes are missing, and anyone knowing of the whereabouts of volumes for the years 1933, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1969, and 1985 are asked to contact the library at 270.265.9071. Last Thursday also saw the materials housed in the 302-archive area transported to the new facility from the 302 location. On Friday, Ms. Lizz Boyd, a citizen who devotes her time and expertise to assisting those researching their family history, began work organizing the materials at the new location.
Last week also saw the Problem Packers, a well-known new local business in Todd County owned by Travis Eadens and Preston Stokes, provide the manpower to begin the arduous task of taking the content of the 302-location to its new home. The young men, who have worked together for over a year, first tackled the placement of shelving in the large area designated for adults. That effort entailed the adding of shelves to the bookshelf frames and the bolting of those frames together for stability. Monday, September 9, saw the Problem Packers begin the most intense phase of the project with the contents of the 302-location being ‘packed’ to the new library. That effort, one which will take several days, found the Problem Packers assisting library staff, library board members, and volunteers as they positioned the books and other items in the new location.
Obviously, much work is involved, and the Library Board members express their appreciation to the Problem Packers, former and current Board members, and volunteers who used their talents and expertise to help make the transition a smooth one. That transition, which will take several weeks to complete, is expected to be finished by October 1. Paul Edwards, husband of Joyce Edwards, has devoted his efforts in recent days putting rolling carts and furniture together, and when a former construction worker’s expertise is needed, Paul has been at hand to offer his construction knowledge. Josh Cates of C&C Contracting also assisted with explaining some of the questions about door closures and lighting.
One remark often heard in relation to the Problem Packers is how professional the young men are as they have packed, lifted, toted, shelved, assisted, and cleaned up when asked to complete some task. A major hurdle to the entire process was the weight of the print materials and other items in the library, and the young men have accepted that challenge willingly. Kyle DeBerry of Horizon Drone Solutions has also added his talents and recorded and documented the efforts of the move so that years from now the next generation will see what the move entailed.
Obviously, the move to the new Library cannot be completed overnight, and the public is reminded the library remains closed while the move takes place. Tentatively, the Library will have a soft opening on October 1. A grand opening will follow, hopefully in early November. As true of all endeavors, change requires patience, and the Library staff is hopeful the public will understand that the staff and volunteers are working as quickly as possible to complete the move.
It is important to express thanks to Kelvin and Lorie DeBerry, Brad and Mandy Shemwell, the late Guy Mallory, and the Guy Mallory family for their contributions making the site for the Library possible. The DeBerry and Shemwell families, partners in local real estate investments, sold the South Main Street property several years ago to the Library board at a discounted price as the Board anticipated future construction and awaited a state KDLA grant. The late Guy Mallory and the Guy Mallory family also donated, prior to Mr. Mallory’s death in 2018, an additional piece of land enlarging the new site to its current size. Other members of the current Library Board include Heath Shemwell, Tiffany Groves, John Paul Leinbach, Mitzi Page, and CLW. Two members exiting the Board in the last few years who were instrumental in planning for the new Library include Mrs. Susan Carroll and Mrs. Brittany Prather.
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
September 11, 2024
