Droves of Pulaski residents turn out for library opening

By SUSAN WHEELDON, Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal

Somerset March 19, 2008 09:27 am

— Thousands of Pulaski County residents came through the doors of the new Pulaski County Library yesterday on what was its grand opening day.
Reactions of those both young and old were excitement and surprise.
“I love how big the children’s department is,” said Crystal Dalton. “It’s a lot bigger than the other one.”
Dalton said she believes she will have a lot of fun coming to the library with her two sons.
The children’s section of the library, which has a train theme, includes pedal cars made like train engines which can glide along simulated tracks through the department, a depot room for children’s activities, and a tree house in the main children’s area.
Hana Smith, librarian at Pulaski County High School and mother of three small children, said she and her children come to the library every week and they’ve really missed those trips over the weeks the library was moving. Smith said she was very excited to get to bring her children to the library.
“I’m really impressed by the community giving donations and being willing to pay the tax when so many other communities in Kentucky are closing libraries and-or withdrawing funding,” said Smith. “That says how important it is to our community.”
Smith said as the librarian at the Pulaski County High School, she works very closely with the staff at the public library. She said the teen librarian comes to the school once a month, and if she doesn’t have something a student needs, the local library is the first place she looks. They also help with SAT and ACT preparation.
“They work really hard to work with all the schools,” said Smith.
Julia Harp, who is currently enrolled in the adult education program to get her GED, said she believed the new library is “wonderful,” but the most amazing thing is the children’s section.
“It’s overwhelming, (the library) so big,” said Harp.
Harp said she believes the library is a place people can go and visit anywhere in the world through books, but also a place where they can come for serenity, peace, and quiet.
Karen Poynter, who works with the adult education program, said she believed there were a lot of options for their program to use the library including recorded books to help those learning English.
“It appears the library has something for everybody,” said Poynter.
Meanwhile, for the first time, Pulaski County teens will have a place to call their own. Located in the basement is a teen area, which includes books, 26 computers, video games and board games.
Before, teens in the community only had a very small area in the library and they had to go to one floor for programs and another for books.
“I think the teens will have a place they can call home and have ownership of,” said Shawn Spaw, who leads teen services.
Spaw noted that just before opening, the library received 1,000 new books for the teen area. He added that while all the teens will be able to play the video games, they will be required to check out one book before doing so.
Spaw said that, other than those who work in the teen area, no one except teens will be allowed there.
“It absolutely exceeds expectations, and I hope everybody in Pulaski County visits,” said Bruce Orwin.
The library holds a special place for the Orwin family, as a Kentucky History room has been named after Bruce’s late father and mother, Don and Eva Orwin. The history room was funded by the Mohn Foundation, and one of the highlights of the room is the gas lamp which was used in Somerset before the age of electric streetlights.
Joel Andra Thomas, one of the Orwins’ daughters, was on the library board when such a building was only a dream.
“I’m so proud of this building,” Thomas said.
Thomas said she didn’t know what she was most proud of — the children’s area or the teen room.
“I feel like people of Pulaski County will truly enjoy and use it,” said Thomas.
As well as checking out reading materials and using the computers, adults will be able to make use of the community rooms. In the basement, the Friends of the Library and the Pulaski County Historical Society also have been set up with rooms.
A ceremony was held which included Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler and Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock. A ribbon cutting was held by the Somerset Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce.
Both Girdler and Bullock said they had very fond memories of the library, and that throughout the years, the library has been very important to them.
In the late afternoon, Assistant Director Charlotte Keeney said they had more people than expected visiting, with some checking out items while others were exploring the facilities.
“The day has gone great,” said Keeney.
At 5 p.m., 3,414 people had come through the doors of the new library to see the facility, and the day wasn’t over yet.
Grand opening activities will continue throughout the week.
The new facility is located at 304 South Main Street and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.