Generator — Winter2020

Schuyler
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Community Builders met in
Schuyler on Oct. 9.
The group visited Schuyler Public
Library, the Schuyler Middle School
Field House, and the Saint Benedict
Center.
Mayor John Knutson welcomed the
group and Economic Development
Coordinator described the
Opportunity Zone program.
Above: The exterior of the new library,
which opened in April 2019.
Left: Schuyler Public Library Director
Jenny White in the library’s kids’ room.
Right: A mural in the young adult room
was created by Schuyler High School
students with the help of their art
teacher and a visiting artist.
SCHUYLER PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Schuyler Public Library is
bright and airy.
The books are neatly arranged
on the shelves, some of their covers
turned to face readers and entice
them to take a look.
The kids and young adult rooms
are comfortable and welcoming, as is
the reading room with its fireplace,
newspapers and cozy chairs.
It has been this way for staff and
patrons since April 2018 — a far
cry from the days when the library
was housed in a former downtown
grocery store.
Schuyler’s library was established
in 1909 in a corner of city hall with
450 donated books. Two years later,
the library outgrew its space. The
board consulted with the Carnegie
Foundation and received $9,000 to
build a new library.
That building was used for 62
years. In 1974, the former Otradosky
Grocery Store was converted to a new
library building. By 2001, the library
was again out of space. The disjointed
floor plan made it hard to supervise
children and help patrons.
A foundation began working
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toward the goal of a new library. It
purchased the former Latino Club
in 2013, but sold it after learning of
flood plain issues.
After more than a decade of
roadblocks and frustration, the
foundation announced a $500,000
donation from Richland native and
Schuyler graduate James Sindelar.
This facilitated the purchase of
property along Colfax Street and the
momentum to move forward.
Library Director Jenny White
started in her role shortly before
the move. She said the library did a
significant purging of books prior to
the move, removing those that were
not circulated much or no longer
relevant.
The new library has 20 percent
more shelf space to allow the
collection to grow. Digital books
available through statewide
consortium Nebraska OverDrive
augment the collection without
taking up space.
The library has free Wi-Fi both
inside the building and out. White
said community members take
advantage of that service even when
the library is closed.
There are two community rooms
that sit just outside the main library
entrance. They have been used for
graduations, baby showers, video
game tournaments, and library
events. There is no fee to use the
rooms, but the library does require
a cash deposit for the key if used
outside normal operating hours.
The library has a Nebraska history
and genealogy room, and special
rooms for kids and young adults.
The young adult room is especially
popular. In the old library, teens
would study and visit in the
children’s room because they had no
where else to go. Now they have their
own space featuring bean bag chairs
and study tables.
It also features a mural that was
created by Schuyler High School
students with the help of art teacher
Michael Trotter and a visiting artist.
White said the piece is definitely
unique — just like Schuyler.
“When I look at it, I see 60
Schuyler kids who were excited about
doing something for their library,”
she said. “That just makes me
happy.”
Learn more: libraries.ne.gov/schuyler/