JULY 9, 2009 ISSUE
Renovated and Extended Ashe Library Reopens
The Ashe County Library closed its doors for good at Jefferson Station where they had resided since last year. Beginning on June 15, some of the library’s books, equipment and furnishings were on their way back to the old library location, and by Wednesday, July 1, all of the media was in place. Only this time, the “place” was in the old building that had been newly renovated and expanded. The previous space of the library encompassed 11,500 square feet and is now 28,500 square feet. With the additional shelf area, library staff can house 1.5 times more books and materials than they could previously. According to Ashe County Librarian Jim McQueen, state funding for the library had been cut beginning a decade ago. Fundraising efforts from Friends of the Library and library staff yielded a total of $644,000, surpassing the original goal of $500,000 by $144,000. The additional funding will go towards an endowment fund.
A grand opening for the Ashe County Public Library is in the works and will be held at the end of July or at the beginning of August. In the meantime, library hours are Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until additional staff can be hired.
For more information, click to www.arlibrary.org.
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