The once lighted, recently darkened corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Tenth Street has residents gleaming again.
Recently, motorists and those walking on downtown sidewalks saw the first signs of life on the corner in nearly a decade with the progress of the new Tyrone-Snyder Public Library.
The project to bring the state-of-the-art facility to Tyrone is nearing its final stages and according to Chuck Banas, board vice-president, directors are hoping to begin moving things from the facility on Logan Avenue to the new location by the end of March.
“We don’t want to start moving anything in until it’s definitely ours,” said Banas.
The nod should be given within a few weeks though. Banas said the $250,000 mortgage for the new library has been approved and expects the final closing after attorney’s maul over all the paperwork.
“If everything continues to go as planned, the board is anticipating a move-in date in the new library of the second or third week of March,” said Banas.
The $650,000 project received the community’s attention, but fundraising came up short, thus requiring the board to take out the mortgage, which is being handled jointly by area banks.
“There’ll be a lot of work,” said Banas, noting that more than 26,000 cataloged and un-cataloged items need to be moved.
Before the move can be made, the inside furnishings must arrive and be installed. Banas said the board recently ordered $7,600 worth of furniture – including chairs, desks and shelving. Banas said he expects the furniture to arrive during the second or third week of February.
“Once the furniture arrives, it will be installed and a more fixed grand opening date will be announced,” he said.
Although he wasn’t sure how the move would be handled, Banas said there are a few ideas being tossed around. He said already, numerous individuals have stepped up to volunteer, as well as local businesses willing to supply trucks, boxes, etc.
In other library business, Banas noted that officers were recently elected for the 2004 year. Officers include: Fred Thomas, president; Banas, vice-president; Linda Albright, secretary; and Sue Gummo, treasurer, who was elected and nominated to fill the lone vacancy on the board.
Library Director Lynne Nearhoof presented the Director’s Report where it was noted the library currently has 5,198 members and 24,333 catalogued items.
She said the summer reading program was a “tremendous” success with 96 children and 56 adults attending and a total of 1,554 books were read. She said th adult program is ongoing reading to residents of Tyrone Colonial Courtyard three times per week.
She also noted that profits from the recent used book sale were $771.21.
