Ribbon-cutting caps finishing touches at new library

0
314

NEW PALESTINE — The doors opened a little over three months ago, but officials with the Sugar Creek Branch of the Hancock County Public Library celebrated the new facility Sunday with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the finishing touches.

A harpist strummed while the library’s board of trustees, dignitaries and community members gathered for the event in the new community room. Following a brief presentation, officials were forced to move the ribbon cutting inside the front entrance because of a downpour.

Library officials recently finished a punch list of tasks for the $4.8 million facility, such as adding identification markers at the end of each aisle. They also added signs identifying areas of the library, like the new-arrivals section. Other than some landscaping, the facility is officially finished.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery

Branch manager Jeanette Sherfield admits she’s still getting used to the 15,000-square-foot facility. She’s also still getting used to the compliments she hears every day.

“We do have more breathing room here,” Sherfield said with a laugh, thinking back to the days at old branch in downtown New Palestine, which was half the size. “But there is also room to expand, so it’s not like this is the end.”

Sherfield has found the building is highly functional for the staff, and the study rooms, where people can shut the doors for meetings or study, have been highly used, she said.

Circulation of materials is also up. On the first day the library opened, in February, 1,800 items were checked out. The compares to the 400 to 500 items normally checked out. While circulation has leveled off somewhat, librarians still have noted that more people are checking out more items. They’re averaging 1,500 to 2,000 additional items checked out per month, said Dave Gray, director of the library.

Once of the areas Gray is most proud of is the flexibility for programming. Events at the old library tended to be first-come, first-served. Now, there is plenty of space for seating for programming, which they plan to kick-off this summer with concerts.

“We’re expecting to see our numbers go up there as well,” Gray said.

The library has also attracted a steady flow of visitors from the nearby Woodland Terrace Senior Living complex with group visits. Gray said he’s hoping they’ll also be able to develop some special programming for them and other groups.

Vicki Crocco, New Palestine, has been visiting the new library on a steady basis, she said, and while her husband misses the coziness of the older library, she’s certain in time, he’ll love the new one as much as she does.

The bigger, more modern facility is good, she said, for the area and the county.

“I think people might have a tendency to think of Hancock County as kind of a rural, woodsy kind of place, but we’re losing that image particularly when people drive by and see this wonderful place,” Crocco said.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”By the numbers” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Circulation figures at the Sugar Creek Library

Feb. 2018, circulation 9,949

Feb. 2019, circulation 12,389

25 percent increase

March 2018, circulation 13,062

March 2019, circulation 16,599

27 percent increase 

April 2018, circulation 11,450 

April 2019, circulation 12,860 

12 percent increase 

[sc:pullout-text-end]