The Effingham Public Library officially opened its new children’s room expansion with a ribbon cutting on Friday. Library board members, city officials, architects and more attended the celebration.
“We love it. The response has been amazing,” said Effingham Public Library Director Amanda McKay. “Patrons love it. Families love it. They can spread out. We can set up different areas, so it’s very nice.”
McKay said when the library opened in 2015, the staff and the library board knew the children’s department needed to be enlarged, especially because of positive feedback received from the community. The original plan was to do the project in 2020, but it got pushed back to 2024.
“The community response was so overwhelming in such a positive way, and so we knew that we would have to make this space – the children’s room – bigger some day,” said McKay.
The library board reached out to an architecture firm, and the firm drew up plans and cost projections. The board then searched for bids. Construction didn’t affect the library’s day-to-day operations much, said McKay.
“They had dust walls up to keep the construction materials contained, especially when they were working on this wall, but it went really smoothly,” said McKay. “Only when they had the glass, when they were taking the glass down or putting the glass back up, did we have to close this floor because those sheets of glass are insanely heavy.”
Effingham Public Library Board of Directors Co-Presidents Matt Greider and Lisa Koerner were the two to cut the ribbon for the grand opening.
“It looks amazing … Making the whole experience better for kids, for teens, for adults is what we’re trying to do,” said Greider. “Libraries aren’t just books anymore. Libraries are an interactive experience, and this helps us achieve that goal.”
Heather Day and her 20-month-old grandson, who visit the library every day, love the new expansion.
“He loves it. It’s very welcoming. It’s very inviting and very kid-friendly,” said Heather. “They can run and play and feel safe.”
They visit the library to socialize with other toddlers, attend story time activities, read and check-out the backpacks filled with toys.
“I liked that they’ve closed it in, so that they can’t run away,” said Day. “That was not here when we first started coming, so it’s nice that they can keep them in.”
Patron and library volunteer Laura Didier is excited for the opportunities the expansion will bring and thought the ribbon cutting celebration was awesome.
“I’m so excited that the opportunity for the community has been opened up like this. They have lots more room here for all the children’s programs that they have going on, and I have a soft spot for children’s programs because I used to be an Outreach Librarian. So I’m loving my children’s programs,” said Didier. “I was excited to see that they also had story time the same day that they were doing the ribbon cutting, so that was fun.”
Didier puts on puppet shows at the library and around the community, so she often utilizes the kids department’s resources. She also coordinates the library’s book sales.
“We’ll see how the community starts pouring in,” said Didier.