A dream decades in the making is inching closer to reality as the finishing touches are underway on the new Galesburg Public Library.
The new library is 68,000 square feet and takes up an entire city block on West Main Street.
Its doors are expected to open to the public in just a few months.
Library director Noelle Thompson said the carpet is down on the first floor, lighting fixtures are up, the walls are painted, and tile is going up in the bathrooms.
Both the fireplace and a Carl Sandburg playhouse are installed and ready to go.
“Everybody knows weather holds things up a little bit. We are waiting on finishing the roof,” Thompson said. “As soon as the snow melts we can add the solar panels to the rooftop. So we're really in the home stretch at this point.”
Another key element – the bookshelves – should be installed in early February.
So it’s nearly time to start moving the library’s collections to the new space.
A section at a time
Thompson said they hired a company that specializes in moving libraries, museums, and special collections.
“At this point the plan is to start Feb. 8, starting with our DVDs. They will move first, and then we’ll do a section at a time. That will take us all the way through the middle of March," Thompson said.
Key dates regarding the library’s move – and availability of collections – are posted on the library’s website, and updates will be shared on social media.
For instance, the last day children’s books will be available for checkout at the current library is Feb. 12.
Thompson said as collections are moved, the current library will remain open through the end of February. It’s a Leap Year – so its last hurrah will be Feb. 29.
The current library on East Simmons Street – about a five-minute walk from the new building – was meant to be a temporary location, after Galesburg’s Carnegie Library was destroyed by a fire in 1958.
“This building’s been open for 62 years and people have really fond memories of their time here,” Thompson said. “So we’ll be doing something special that day to say goodbye to this building and leap into the new one on Leap Day.”
Temporary closure
Between closing the doors on Simmons Street and opening the doors on Main Street, the Galesburg Public Library will be temporarily closed throughout March and part of April.
A specific opening date has not yet been set. Thompson said the target is early April, but there are a lot of moving pieces in relocating a library – and the staff has a lot to learn.
“We want to be really successful when we reopen. We want to know where our materials are. We want all of our technology to be functioning. We want our staff to feel really competent in the new building," Thompson said.
The library plans to announce the April soft opening date in mid-March.
An official ribbon-cutting and community celebration will follow.
Digital resources
Books checked out from now until the library’s temporary closure won’t be due until April 15.
In addition, digital resources will be available while the physical library is closed.
“We really want to encourage people, if you don’t have a library card, get signed up before Feb. 29, because that’s going to give you access to some of our digital databases,” Thompson said.
With a library card, patrons have access to Libby and Boundless eBook collections and the streaming TV and movie service Kanopy, which has unlimited children’s content.
Also in March, patrons will have free access to Ancestry.com. Plus, with a library card they can use other area libraries.
“That’s not specific to when we’re closed,” Thompson said. “That’s all the time. So you can go to Warren County or the Knoxville Public Library. If you’re passing through Abingdon you can use your library card to check out their materials or place a hold and have materials sent there.”
A community effort
As the countdown to the new library's opening day continues, Thompson said she’s most excited about having more space to be a community hub where everyone can feel welcome and access the information and services they need.
“I love having a space where people can gather and exist. And we’ve got so many more gathering spaces in the new building, whether that’s our five study rooms or our large community room that groups can reserve,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the new building could introduce new ideas about what a library can be -- and inspire people to dream about what the next big community project could be in Galesburg.
To supplement a $15 million grant from the Illinois State Library, $4 million was raised locally for the project.
“This really was a community effort. The fact that it’s actually coming together shows what can happen when people join forces,” Thompson said. “And that our community believes in the values of the library -- equality and access and education and knowledge and empowerment. That’s inspiring as well.”
While the company hired is handling the move, Thompson said there will be a book chain on March 4, where local students will be passing books down the road – from the old library to the new.
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