2008 Woodie Awards
Coralville library reopens
Kelli Shaffner - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The Coralville Public Library reopened Wednesday after an $8 million renovation.
Well, sort of.
The "right on schedule" phase one of library renovations were officially completed, and it reopened after being closed for two weeks. But the entire transformation of the library will not be completed until phase two is finished in five to six months.
Alison Ames Galstad, the director of the library, said for the time being - until the second stage is completed - everything is in a temporary "prescribed" location.
There are book stacks in the rotunda, she noted.
"The adult and children [sections] are smushed into the new wing," she said.
Phase one was the construction of a new wing on the east side that stretches south of the rotunda - a new addition itself. Phase two will be the complete inside-and-out renovation of the existing library.
But Ames Galstad said the library will still be able to provide the public with computer access, story time, and the ability to check out materials.
Coralville Mayor Jim Fausett said the need for more space became apparent about five years ago because of the growing population of Coralville, but the start of the project faced a delay from Coralville bonding issues.
Ames Galstad said $3 million came from bonds that passed by a 92 percent vote, $3 million originated from tax increment funding, and the last $2 million was raised by the Library Foundation in the forms of private donations and grants.
Construction began in July 2006, but Ames Galstad said the first assessment of the building was done in 1996 or 1997, only 10 years after it was first constructed.
The Iowa City Public Library went through a similar expansion in 2004 in which books, employees, and readers had to move into the newest addition while the old space was renovated.
"It will be beautiful when it's done," Iowa City Public Library director Susan Craig said about the Coralville expansion.
Well, sort of.
The "right on schedule" phase one of library renovations were officially completed, and it reopened after being closed for two weeks. But the entire transformation of the library will not be completed until phase two is finished in five to six months.
Alison Ames Galstad, the director of the library, said for the time being - until the second stage is completed - everything is in a temporary "prescribed" location.
There are book stacks in the rotunda, she noted.
"The adult and children [sections] are smushed into the new wing," she said.
Phase one was the construction of a new wing on the east side that stretches south of the rotunda - a new addition itself. Phase two will be the complete inside-and-out renovation of the existing library.
But Ames Galstad said the library will still be able to provide the public with computer access, story time, and the ability to check out materials.
Coralville Mayor Jim Fausett said the need for more space became apparent about five years ago because of the growing population of Coralville, but the start of the project faced a delay from Coralville bonding issues.
Ames Galstad said $3 million came from bonds that passed by a 92 percent vote, $3 million originated from tax increment funding, and the last $2 million was raised by the Library Foundation in the forms of private donations and grants.
Construction began in July 2006, but Ames Galstad said the first assessment of the building was done in 1996 or 1997, only 10 years after it was first constructed.
The Iowa City Public Library went through a similar expansion in 2004 in which books, employees, and readers had to move into the newest addition while the old space was renovated.
"It will be beautiful when it's done," Iowa City Public Library director Susan Craig said about the Coralville expansion.
Be the first to comment on this story