After years of planning, the shovels hit the ground on Friday, June 6, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Library’s expansion. A crowd of approximately 100 gathered under a tent and sunny skies to participate in, and to watch, the ceremony. With a recording of the iconic Lovely Day playing as guests arrived, the stage was set for a truly lovely (and exciting!) day.
Heidi Smith, the Library’s executive director, opened the event. Rob Olian, the president of the Library board of trustees, Mayor Nancy Rotering, State Representative Bob Morgan, and State Senator Julie Morrison also spoke. Noted in the remarks was the importance of the Library and the opportunity the expansion presents for the community. Following remarks, Heidi Smith, Rob Olian, and Mayor Rotering were the first to break ground at the large mound of dirt provided by the construction company. State Senator Julie Morrison and State Representative Bob Morgan then joined the mayor, the Library director, and Rob Olian in breaking ground. Board president Rob Olian brought his own golden shovel for the occasion while the construction company provided other shovels.
The city manager, current and past Library board of trustee members, city council members, representatives for a longtime Library donor, and representatives from the Friends of the Library also participated in breaking ground. Library staff members then took up shovels and had the opportunity to break ground, too. The ceremony signified the start of the expansion slated to add 7,850 square feet to the Library.
The groundbreaking corresponded with the first day of the Library’s annual summer reading program, a longstanding and popular tradition. Although the theme may change each year, the idea is the same — to encourage children to read during the summer, and teens and adults can participate, too. To announce the kickoff of summer reading, Library staff attending the event wore special summer reading t-shirts and summer reading handouts were available.
It was a genuinely celebratory day and what celebration is complete without refreshments? To that end, platters of cookies were available following the ceremony. To add to the day, the Youth Department created construction-themed coloring sheets that were placed at the refreshment tables along with hard hats provided by Lo Destro, the construction company, setting the scene for the construction to follow.
