Tuesday, April 7, 2009

ABC Wednesday - "L"

"L" is for






The building shown above is the newest addition to the municipal buildings in my city. A part of the Central Arkansas Library System, the grand opening of the Esther Dewitt Nixon Library was held on February 14, 2009. This building is a much-needed improvement on our former library, which was housed in an old and relatively small, flat-roofed building. All things considered, the accomodations might have been OK except that the flat roof gathered and held excessive amounts of water during heavy rains, which we often have here. Twice in the last five years, parts of the roof gave way, causing extensive flooding in the library, and even worse, much damage to the books in the stacks.


To my discredit, I haven't been involved in community affairs to any extent during the years I've lived here. However, I am a book-lover and the last episode of flooding caused me such consternation that I went straight to the mayor's office to express my displeasure and to urge the funding and construction of a new library building. I don't assume to take any credit for influencing the final decision to do just that, but was delighted to see it come to fruition during my lifetime. I've watched the progress of construction from ground-breaking to the grand opening. It doesn't hurt a thing that it is located within walking distance (on one of my good days).


The interior is spacious and well-arranged, the stacks are full of books with new, transparent covers (even the old books look new again), there is a generously-sized meeting room, a new and cleverly decorated children's area, benches and chairs upon which to sit and read, and an ample area designated for the new computers, which are available to any library patron. All in all, a wonderful improvement.


Not seen in the photograph because of the angle from which I shot is is the gently pitched roof! No more water accumulation!




ABC Wednesday
was created by Mrs. Nesbitt. Please visit the ABC Wednesday site to view others' interpretations of this week's letter, "L."


27 comments:

photowannabe said...

With so many cut backs and things closing, its nice to see a new and improved public place. Great choice.

Sylvia K said...

It is indeed wonderful to see something positive like building a new library happening any where these days! Great post and photos!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

You probably had a huge influence on the building of that library... Individuals don't realize how much their 'vote' means. You--going to the mayor's office, had to make a difference.

Anyhow--I know you are proud of it. It looks gorgeous. Even our little town of Crossville is getting a new library. Yeah-rah!!!!

Hugs,
Betsy
P.S. I think they should rename it to the Pat Phillips Library!!!!

Femin Susan said...

You probably must have had a huge influence on the building of that library.
Cheers!

Janie said...

Now that's one of my favorite L words. Library. Glad to hear you got a new one so there won't be any more drowned books!

Snap said...

Wonderful choice for L. I enjoy seeing and learning more about where you live.

Hugs--

Tumblewords: said...

Terrific to have a new library! Great!

Gordon said...

A wonderful new asset to your community; enjoy!

My wife works in a university library, in a new building and when it rained just after it was opened it leaked! All fixed now though; poor original design.

Bradley Hsi said...

We all think who need library when there is internet. However, the library serves not only the purpose of information, it also serves also a center for the community. You are lucky to have such a nice library.

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Hi - found you over at "The Depp Effect". Good for you to have your say regarding your local library and what a wonderful new building. Great post. A

Reader Wil said...

Very important to have a good library with all the facilities this can offer. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for your visit.

Arkansas Patti said...

Could live with out many things but not my library. You surely have a grand new one. Wise choice. Enjoy.

Carolina said...

Looks like a book-temple.
I bet your visit to the mayor's office scared their socks off and you are to thank for the new library ;-)

Commonweeder said...

Congratulations on the new library! I have always been a reader and lover of libraries. I was fortunate enough to work as a librarian at a very small town library for 9 years before I left to retire last year. Beautiful photos.

Suldog said...

I love a library, any library. I love to go to libraries when I visit someplace outside of my own home. There's just about nothing that tells you more about a town or city than the libraries, in my opinion.

Karyn said...

Great story for "L"!

I'm sure your trip to the mayor's office was a factor in their decision. They say that one letter to a government official represents 100 (or is it 1000?) voters so a personal visit must be VERY influential! Way to go!

EG CameraGirl said...

Why didn't I think of library? Hmmm.

Good for you for speaking up. We could use you here - we have a library but our poor CEO needs more money to hire enough staff to carry out all the wonderful ideas he has.

Jay said...

A new library is a wonderful thing! It's not (to me) a very interesting piece of architecture, but the books are the important thing!

We both have a strange relationship with books. We love to read, and do so all the time, but can't bear to let a book go, with the result that we have a mini-library right here at home!

Luckily for me, my memory is pretty poor on the whole, so I can re-read books at regular intervals and still enjoy them! Most of my favourites have been read at least half a dozen times.

Gilly said...

What a gorgeous library! I'd be there every day! Just found your blog, and you sound very much like me! Look forward to reading more of your blogs.

magiceye said...

lovely perspective of the image and the commentary

Rune Eide said...

Libraries are very important institutions. I would have had a much duller life without them - a good L.

Anonymous said...

Without our 'old' Public library my childhood would have been a very lonely place, sadly, now, they are places of commerce DVD's and CD's, computors and irritated librarians.

Dr.John said...

That is a beautiful building. It must really be wonderful to see something you wanted to see built get built.

Mojo said...

Good to see public funds put to good use. And those flat roofs are ill suited for any place that isn't in the middle of the desert. Never understood the logic behind them myself.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jeannie Hanson said...

Library! What a perfect choice, and what a great place to spend community monies! Nice to know your books are now protected. Jeannie

Jeannelle said...

The building of a new library is an encouraging and hopeful event! You may have helped light the spark for it, Pat....good for you!!

rhymeswithplague said...

I'm glad you explained that it was your nearness to the building and the angle of your camera shot that made the new library's roof only appear to be flat, because it sure looked flat to me, and so I did a double-take at first when you explained that the old library's roof was flat.

Accuracy in reporting is always good.