RUFFIN PREVOST The Billings Gazette | Posted: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 12:00 am
CODY - After more than a century on Sheridan Avenue, Cody's public library opened Saturday at its new home on the ground floor of the Park County Complex at Stampede Avenue and Heart Mountain Street.
More than 400 people got their first look at the 27,000-square-foot library that houses more than 75,000 volumes and features a cafe, fireplace, 100-seat meeting room and separate areas for teens and children.
Courtney Williams, who has just moved to Cody from Georgia, said she was impressed with the library, and would often bring her three children.
"I like it very much. It has a lot of books," said Kacee Cochran, 8.
William Rankin, 11, said he liked the library's interior design, and appreciated the separate children and teens sections.
"It's pretty nice. I like how everything is set up. I'll probably walk here every week because it's near my house," Rankin said.
"There is a lot more specialization here than in older libraries, and it also has the ability to service many more activities besides just reading books. It's a warm, inviting space where people will feel welcome," said Keith Rupert of CTA Architects, the project's designers.
Also included in the library's collections are a medical reference library and historical archives for Park County.
The renovated floor of the former Marathon Building features a diverse color scheme, nearly two dozen computer stations, several private meeting or study rooms, wireless Internet access and a fenced outdoor play yard for kids.
A full commercial kitchen is included as part of the Biblio Bistro, to be shared with culinary students from upstairs tenant Northwest College. Program participants will learn about cooking and food service and operate the cafe.
"Let's face it, librarians really aren't baristas. That's not our forte," said Frances Clymer, director of the Park County Library.
Clymer said the cafe and other spots in the library that offered comfortable furniture and views of Heart Mountain would be "great places to curl up with a book and a cup of coffee and relax or meet a friend."
The $5.8 million project is funded by $2.3 million from the State Loan and Investment Board, $2.2 million in special-project Park County sales tax revenues, $1 million in county reserves and $300,000 from the Park County Library Foundation, the largest private donation ever made to the county.
"I had several sleepless nights on this, wondering were we doing the right thing," said Tim French, a county commissioner.
"I sleep a lot better at night now that it's finished, and I tell myself that we did the right thing, because we have a beautiful thing here in this library," he said.
Saturday's open house also included an auction of 23 giant-sized grizzly sculptures to raise additional funds for extras in the children's and teen's sections.
The colorful bears, painted and decorated by local artists, were on display throughout Park County this summer, and were a popular attraction for tourists and locals.
Bidding became fast and furious for a bear named "Ursus Horribilis," painted by Joy Simpson, with the final bid topping out at $31,000, the high seller of the day.
The library opened Monday for regular business in its new location.