New Prairie Grove Library Set On Start

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Mayor Sonny Hudson, left, meets with Prairie Grove's Library Building Committee in the former Walmart Express store on Buchanan Street, next to Subway. This will be the new home for the Prairie Grove Public Library for children and adults.
LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Mayor Sonny Hudson, left, meets with Prairie Grove's Library Building Committee in the former Walmart Express store on Buchanan Street, next to Subway. This will be the new home for the Prairie Grove Public Library for children and adults.

PRAIRIE GROVE -- The former Walmart Express building is now empty and ready for work to turn it into a new Prairie Grove Public Library.

The city bought the building at 881 Buchanan St., from Harps Food Stores Inc., for $775,000, with Harps turning around and making a $125,000 donation to the city. Prairie Grove is paying for the 15,000-square-foot building with $250,000 from its library expansion fund, $200,000 from its reserve account and a $300,000 short-term bank loan.

City officials do not yet know what renovations will cost but a rough estimate is at least $200,000, according to Larry Oelrich, director of administrative services and public works.

The city's 2018 budget has $150,000 set aside for the new library. Oelrich said he will recommend budgeting additional money in the 2019 budget for the project.

Renovations and remodeling include a checkout and customer service counter, electrical work, painting, repairs to the walls and floors, a tile entrance, new glass entrance doors, shelving, furniture and exterior work.

The city has a Library Building Committee and members last week reviewed the proposed layout for the new library. Blue tape on the building floor shows where the different areas will be located.

The library will have a children's area which will include an open space for programs, a stage and computer area. Next to it will be a young adult section and then the adult section. Other amenities will include two study rooms, public computer area, a large conference room and office. New furniture such as couches and chairs will provide places for library patrons to sit, work, relax or read.

Megan Wood, Prairie Grove Children's Library coordinator, said the new library for the most part will have an open concept, except for the children's area.

Wood, along with library Director Iva Sorrell and librarian Amanda Thulin, are thrilled about the new building and already thinking about ways to decorate the interior of the building. Ideas include kites hanging from the ceiling in the children's area, a mural of historic downtown Prairie Grove and large canvas pictures from old Prairie Grove.

Sorrel said it will be wonderful for library staff and the community to have one public library, instead of a separate children's library and adult library.

"I'm excited about all the space and being under one roof," Sorrel said. "It makes it easier for programming and as staff, we will not be split off."

Currently, the children's library is only open 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Having one library, Sorrel said, means parents will be able to come to one building anytime during the day to find books for their children and books for themselves.

The library will triple its space. Now, the square footage for both buildings is about 5,000 square feet.

Sorrel said both libraries have been out of space for a long time and many books have been packed away.

"We're just packed in and we would like to unpack some stuff so patrons can see all we have," Sorrel said. "We'll be able to unpack everything and put it out."

Mayor Sonny Hudson said it's too soon to give out a timeline on when the library will be ready but the city is committed to moving forward as quickly as possible.

General News on 09/19/2018