● Smiths Grove Branch Library

Daily News (Bowling Green, KY)

Construction to begin soon on new library in Smiths Grove
ROBYN L. MINOR, The Daily News
Published: April 28, 2011
Probably as soon as weather permits, construction will begin on the new Warren County Public Library for Smiths Grove.

Sunbelt Construction was awarded the $1.266 million bid for the project and the state issued a permit for the project last week, according to Library Director Lisa Rice.

Rice said the bid was slightly higher than hoped, but some architectural touches were added that bumped up the price. Among them is a barrel ceiling with windows that bring in a lot of natural light and give the building architectural interest.

“All the response we have received has been very positive,” Rice said.

“The community is very supportive of growth in the library. And the new building will be able to serve more than just Smiths Grove. It should be large enough to handle all of northern Warren County.”

Rice said teachers at North Warren Elementary School are excited that students can walk from the school to the library at Main and Second streets.

And groups such as the Divas Book Club that use the current library are equally excited, said Rosemary Legge, a member of the library board and the book club.

“We’re a really enthusiastic group and are looking forward to the new space and all the new things that it will involve,” Legge said.

So is the Warren East Garden Club, of which Legge also is a member.

“We help take care of the children’s garden behind the old library,” she said. “And we’ll have some input into plantings at the new place, something we are excited about. It will really help dress up the building.”

Legge said it’s important to keep children in mind when planning landscaping and gardens.

The Smiths Grove Library has a very active children’s program, as well as multiple programs for adults in the community.

Now scattered in what open space they can find in the current library, the programs will have a home in a classroom/meeting space in the new library. Rice said the room will be about 500 square feet, large enough to accommodate 48 people in classroom style or about 75 in theater style.

“The building plans look terrific,” Legge said. “And I think it will really help our town.”

Rice said she won’t have a definite construction schedule until after a meeting today, but expects the project to be “substantially complete” by Dec. 23, with a moving day sometime after the first of the year.

As for what’s next for the library system, Rice said the board is not willing to commit to a project yet.

“Definitely our main facility is too small for a community our size, but there may be other areas in the community that need to be served first,” she said.

Rice said officials want to get the new Smiths Grove library up and running and see how the circulation numbers at the facility change before considering what other needs to meet first.

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