PEA RIDGE — Overjoyed, overwhelmed, elated - those are just a few of the words expressed by members of the Pea Ridge Library Board of Directors when they learned they were getting a new building.
The new building, more than five times the size of the one they now occupy, will be theirs at no cost to the city.
Mercy Medical Center donated the building on N. Curtis Avenue to the city for the library, Mayor Jackie Crabtree announced this week. He was to present a resolution to the City Council Tuesday night.
“We’re very appreciative, we’re pleased that Mercy has made this generous donation to the city,” Peggy Maddox, library board chairman, said. “We love this ... to be able to continue to serve the needs of a growing community.
We’ve been talking about a new building for the library ever since I joined the library board about eight years ago.”
“This is possible because many years ago, several ladies donated some of their own books and started a library,” Maddox said, expressing her gratitude to the founders of the community library.
“We’re brainstorming - and evaluating the surveys - to determine how to arrange and use the new space,” Maddox said.
The mayor said the city had considered the building several years ago.
“We had talked a few years ago, and they got an appraisal of it. We were looking at it to see if therewas anything we could do get it but really didn’t have the funds,” Crabtree said. “We’ve been working with the library on what kind of improvements are needed.
“Of course, the library was looking for somewhere to expand.
When we went to visit with them (Mercy officials) again to see if they’d drop the price ... we learned they were going to give it to us.” “It’s fantastic,” Crabtree said. “I felt great about this.”
Crabtree told the members of the Library Board of Directors and each member of the City Council, but did not make the announcement until all the paper work was complete.
“Everybody was really excited ... Personally, I think it’s a good fit for the library. The location is good.”
The building, a metal building of about 5,000 square feet, can be rearranged inside as none of the interior walls are load bearing, he said, adding that the library may not use the entire space and library officials are contemplatingwhat to do with the rest of it.
The library is currently housed in the original Bank of Pea Ridge building downtown and both the mayor and Maddox said the building will probably be turned over to the city. It is currently deeded to the library.
“If there’s any negative, it’s about moving something else out of old downtown. We want to be very careful about what we put back in that old building,” Crabtree said.
“I think it’s exciting for the community. When we get a boost like this, it’s good for the spirits,” he said.
News, Pages 1 on 06/22/2011