SIL - Jan/Feb 2019

The reading room at the library
ty “raw.” She explained that the county
had worked on it some, but it was still
fairly messy. “But really, from that very
first walkthrough, ideas formed and I began
to envision how the rooms could be
utilized,” she said.
The project took two years to complete,
but it wasn’t as easy as HGTV
makeover programs make it look. Since
the house is a historical landmark, improvements
had to be limited. The interior
walls had to remain intact, so they
were cleaned and painted and remain in
their original position. There were other
areas of the house that had already been
upgraded and added onto, and the library
staff could bring those sections up to code.
“Once we had the idea of where
things could sit, there wasn’t a lot of
movement,” Merida said. “My desire was
that we really married the past with the
present, making it adaptable for the future.
Somehow figuring out how to honor
the history of the community and the
house and not lose that was important. I
believe we accomplished that.”
The staff utilized as many of the
old pieces of the house as possible. If
these items weren’t functional, then they
were used as décor. In the restrooms, the
old original windows hang on the wall.
“They’re pretty rough,” Merida said, “but
they’re just as they were when they came
off the house.” An old screen door from
the house was reshaped to form a frame
around the television in the main room.
The house evokes a cozy, inviting
atmosphere, with several areas designed
with specific needs in mind. The reading
room, complete with overstuffed chairs
and a fireplace, allows patrons to sit
back, relax and enjoy their favorite books.
There’s a conference room where community
groups can converge for an afternoon.
Children will delight in the fact that
the library has a room complete with toys,
games and colorful picture books. And
those with a creative streak will be thrilled
with the makerspace room.
“We wanted to create a makerspace
that is not so bound by time constraints,”
Merida said. They want the area to be
based around the concept of exploratory
learning. “We’ll tell you the safety rules,
we’ll show you the basics of how to turn
on the equipment and how to get started.
After that, it’s kind of learning by doing.”
The makerspace is a playroom for
adults. The space includes a laser cutter
that can be used with wood, lathe, plastic,
metal and slate. A Cricut machine is ready
and waiting to help patrons make masterpieces
from balsa wood, fabric or vinyl.
There’s also an electronic soldering station,
a sewing machine and a 3D printer.
Merida is pleased with the positive
response they’re receiving from the community
about the digital library. “The attendance
keeps increasing and we are delighted
with the creative ways community
members are using our library. It’s their library,
and we want them to know they’re
always welcome here.” •
The Galena Digital Library is open 11 a.m. to
7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m.Friday and Saturday at 6956 U.S.
150, at the corner of 150 and Edwardsville-
Galena Road. For more information, go to nafclibrary.org/galena-digital-library.
Jan/Feb 2019 • 33