Grand Opening of New SCPL Wing Tomorrow
New Starke County Public Library Wing Grand Opening Dec. 7
Urwiler said she’s glad the opening day is nearly here.
Henry F. Schricker Public Library Open; New Wing Opening Dec. 7
Knox Library to Close Nov. 4–6 to Move Into New Wing
New Starke County Public Library Wing Grand Opening Nov. 2
The Starke County Public Library expansion project is nearing its completion and preparing for its grand opening ceremony in November, according to Library Director Sheila Urwiler. She said the crews have been working diligently and no delays have sprung up with the recent work. Now, she said they’re about three-quarters finished with the new wing.
Starke County Public Library Expansion Nearing Completion
“We are still about a month and a half out. It looks like sometime late September we should be about ready to open the new addition. They’re, right now, working on the drywall inside and that will take about another week, maybe two, and then they’ll start working on painting and doing the flooring and start installing some of the fixtures,” said Urwiler.
Henry F. Schricker Library Addition Should Be Complete by September
The new wing is looking more and more complete each day, and Urwiler said they’re still on track for completion toward the end of August or early September. The crew will soon finish putting in the windows and then the masonry work will take priority as they improve the exterior of the addition, matching the look of the existing library. Workers will also be working on the electrical infrastructure next week as well.
New Wing Beginning to Take Shape at Henry F. Schricker Public Library
Construction Still Underway At Starke County Public Library
The construction efforts at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library are still going strong, but that is subject to change depending on the weather. Director Sheila Urwiler said the construction crews are currently finishing up the pouring of concrete footings and the foundation walls. Within the next two weeks, Urwiler said the crews will complete the excavation and backfilling for more of the concrete for floors.
Once the foundation walls and footings have been completed, Urwiler said work will begin on installing the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system, plumbing, and rough framing – that is, assuming the weather holds.
Construction Underway at Henry F. Schricker Public Library
Construction efforts have kicked off at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library. Director Shelia Urwiler explained that they’ve started work on the children’s wing as they’re adding about 6000 square feet for the new children and young adult department.
Urwiler said they’re hoping for the construction to be done by mid-July, but it is possible that the construction could take longer than expected. The total price on the work came to about $1.5 million, with the remaining balance from the $1.875 million they received from bonds to go toward furnishings, new fixtures, electrical wiring, and other expenses.
Starke County Library In Need of Math Tutors
The Starke County Library’s Literacy Program has been up and running for several months now, but Director Sheila Urwiler said they are in need of math tutors to assist adult students in need of help with algebra, geometry, and other math subjects.
Urwiler explained that while the library currently has four tutors, most of them don’t feel comfortable helping with math. She said another tutor training session will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 10 a.m., and anyone interested in becoming a tutor is encouraged to sign up.
Starke County Public Library Expansion Project Suffers Delay
The Starke County Public Library expansion project is at a bit of a standstill, but Library Director Sheila Urwiler says they should be requesting bids come September. She says there was a bit of a mix-up last spring when they requested bids which put a bit of a delay on their plans, but she’s confident they’ll soon be back on track.
Urwiler says the library has been keeping busy, particularly with the Summer Reading Program which will come to a close on Saturday. She says they’re still looking for people to participate in the literacy program that they’ve been running, and she encourages anyone interested in participating in the program to call (574) 772-7323 or stop by any Starke County Library branch.
Literacy Council Established In Starke County
There is now a Literacy Council in Starke County. Through the efforts of Sheila Urwiler, director of the Starke County Library System and Jerry Gurrado of the SCILL Center, a council has been established and volunteers trained.
“We’ve had five people go through the training and are now certified. We’re looking for more volunteers because the more people we have do this, the better. Training only takes about one to two hours. It’s not hard to do. You don’t have to be a teacher; you can just be a person who has a few hours of time a week who would like to help out,” Urwiler said.
Tutoring has already started for students in the program.
Proposed Library Construction Plans Presented to Knox School Board
Knox Library Director Sheila Urwiler and Library Board members Dave Bullock and Amie Flora discussed the library’s proposed construction plans with the Knox Community School Board Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa talks about their presentation.
“Since three sides of their property borders the Knox school property, they wanted to give an update on what they want to do and also ask for some cooperation with the board on movement of a sidewalk and tying some sanitation lines into the lines that come through our property which could be a money saver for everyone because if it’s cheaper to tie into these lines and it’s feasible, it makes perfect sense. As they expand their parking lot on the south side of the library, they may tie an entrance or exit into the horseshoe drive of the Elementary School, that is located off of Culver Road, to help with the traffic flow.”
Gappa said the project may be a win-win for both the Corporation and the Library.
Henry F. Schricker Public Library Expansion Project Underway
The Henry F. Schricker library expansion project is underway and moving along right on schedule. Library Director Sheila Urwiler said that the next step they’ll be taking is to get the plans and drawings to an estimator.
“We’re getting our final estimates and they’re drawing up the construction documents to go out for bidding, and the bidding should start in February sometime, we’re not sure exactly when yet, but that’s the goal right now,” said Urwiler.
Digital Books to Replace Libraries?
What’s the future of libraries in the digital age? We posed that question recently to Shelia Urwiler, Director of the Starke County Library system.
“E-books are changing the library landscape quite a bit and no one is one hundred percent sure how that’s going to work out,” said Urwiler. “We do know that we are going to transition more to e-books and less print eventually. I heard a speaker say that he thinks it will be in the next two to three years – I think that’s a little overestimating. I think we’re looking more at 15 to 20 before print really is more for special collections and archives.”
Henry F. Shricker Library Bond Sale Completed
Conducted by Ice Miller and Umbaugh and Associates, the bond sale attracted 5 bidders. Librarian Sheila Urwiler explained that the bond sale is only one of the first steps among many.
“The bond sales were complete on Nov. 8, and we’ve got our bond money now, we’re ready to start the next phase which is getting our cost estimates approved by our board and having the construction documents drawn up so we can start the bidding process in probably late January or sometime in February,” said Urwiler.
The bonds were sold to the De Motte State Bank for 3.65% interest. The issue is for 20 years, meaning the payoff will be in 2031, and the money will be put to good use in remodeling the library, Urwiler explained.
“You’ll see a new children’s area that is at what is now the back of the building, closest to the elementary school. The children and the Y/A area will be separate, there will be a little walkway under what is currently the mezzanine, and then those areas will have a little bit of separation which should help with some of the noise from the programs and just from kids running around and they just have a hard time being quiet,” Urwiler said.
Leedy Architectural of Elkhart who did the original work on the library will be the architecture firm doing design work for the project.
According to Urwiler, the groundbreaking ceremony is expected to take place in late March or early April.
Plans Given for Henry F. Schricker Public Library Expansion
Now that the “go-ahead” has been given to the Starke County Library Board to proceed with their $1,785,000 renovation project at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox, the public now wants to know what’s planned.
Acting Library Director Sheila Urwiler has that answer.
Ellen Dodge Announces Retirement as Library Director
After five and a half years as director of the Starke County Public Library, Ellen Dodge has announced her resignation. Effective Aug. 31, Dodge’s retirement marks the end of a dedicated 17 years of service to the library.
“When I first came I selected fiction materials and helped people make choices for their recreational reading. I’ve been a reference librarian and was head of the reference department for several years,” said Dodge.
Originally born in Chicago, Dodge spent the majority of her life growing up in Laporte County. She later earned her Bachelor’s in Biology and a Master’s in Library Science, and worked in hospital laboratories and research labs before getting a job at the library.
