Lively Library: The North Lake County Library prepares to reopen

It’s been years in the planning and a year in the building, but Polson’s North Lake County Library is about to open its doors to an eager community.

With almost 2,000 more square feet, banks of windows, and a palette of lake and mountain hues, the new library brings the beauty of the outside indoors. At the same time, cozy spaces abound, with comfortable chairs and couches, a glassed-in nook for infants and toddlers, a pirate ship for young readers and a coffee bar for more mature book lovers.

Library director Abbi Dooley beams when she talks about the new space and what it means for the community that helped build it. While we spoke last week, workers hurried in and out, completing myriad last-minute projects.

The community room was crammed full of books that had been moved from the temporary library at the Methodist Church the previous weekend. Rows and rows of empty white shelves waited for librarians to begin stocking them with books this week – one of the final steps in the process.

The library’s first customers arrive Feb. 12 “if everything stays on track,” says Dooley. That Monday morning, kids will be welcomed through the doors to explore. The Sneak Peek Story Time also provides an opportunity for staff to refine the workflow and “see how the kids are with the space, to give them a chance to just run around without other people in here.” To enter, adults must be accompanied by a child age 5 or under.

The next day, Feb. 13, guided tours are on tap, so visitors can get a first look at the design elements and new technology. And finally, on Valentine’s Day, the library fully opens for business at 9 a.m.

“February is Love Your Library Month,” says Dooley, “so we'll have some treats, a ribbon cutting and a little giveaway.”

As she ticks off the attributes of the new space, Dooley points first to the floor, carpeted in shades of blue and gray, in patterns that evoke water. “Our whole idea behind it is our area, its nature,” she says. “It's the Mission Mountains, it's Flathead Lake.”

Natural wood elements represent “the logging community years back, and logs coming down Flathead Lake,” she says. “And then of course, the natural light, the big windows.”

The whimsical pirate ship, which has run aground in the children’s section, is “the ultimate feature,” says Dooley, and reflects the board and staff’s commitment to incorporating an indoor play space.

Although most adults grew up thinking that libraries are synonymous with silence, that’s no longer the case. Instead, Dooley says the library of the 21st century is designed to serve all ages with technology, programming, education, entertainment, and spaces for families and senior citizens.

“Public libraries have really shifted in that we're not really that quiet spot anymore,” she says. “It really is more of a lively library.”

Although, the library still has quiet areas, including two enclosed study rooms and tucked-away nooks with comfortable furniture. “There are still options for people that really are coming here to look for a place to study, or who really do need that quiet.”

“That's the beauty of the library, it’s for all ages,” she adds. “It's the community hub.”

Offerings will include music programs, including the popular Music in the Library series, centered around the coffee bar, and concerts in tandem with Mission Valley Live in the community room.

Bedrock of books

Books remain the bedrock though. “We will always be about books,” Dooley says. “As long as people want them, they will be here.”

In addition to the books that were available at the temporary library during the renovation, more were stashed in a storage unit, and around 4,000 volumes were housed by community members.

“We were really grateful for that,” says Dooley. “They can begin bringing them back after we open – but gradually please.”

The temporary quarters in the church were a boon for the community by providing continuity of services. 

“Of course, we wish we had a bigger collection there, and our numbers were certainly down,” says Dooley. “But I think a lot of people also found us that maybe live up in that area. So it actually worked out really well for us, and I think it worked out pretty well for the church, too.”

Assistant director Mallory Witham says kids dropped by on their way home from school. “That was pretty sweet.”

She describes the library’s temporary digs as “a soft landing.” Many libraries are forced to close completely during a major renovation, but Polson’s was just closed for a few weeks. “It's been very fortunate that we found a place that worked.”

Dooley was effusive about the project’s contractor, Martel Construction. “They’re the best company I’ve ever worked with on anything,” she said.

In addition to their devotion to detail and craftsmanship and can-do attitude, Dooley says they’ve also donated time and materials to the project. Crew members were on hand last Saturday to help with the final move from the church, and to finish the pirate ship, which superintendent Kenny Welch called his favorite part of the project.

Other amenities 

Other improvements at the library include: 

Accessibility: With help from a $20,000 grant from the American Library Association, the library was able to add a state-of-the-art hearing loop, attuned to hearing aids so that folks who are hard of hearing or have cochlear implants can more easily interact with staff and hear dialogue during meetings or presentations without the background noise.

“It’s huge technology and a wonderful grant,” says Dooley.

The library is also now ADA compliant, with handicapped-accessible doors and restrooms and more space between shelves.

Energy-saving features: LED lighting, improved insulation and energy-efficient windows were part of the renovation, and the roof was designed to accommodate solar panels in the future.

Fish are back: The much-loved fish tank will return, albeit a smaller version imbedded in the library services desk. The large koi that inhabited the giant old tank have swum on to other aquariums.

“The public demanded the fish and we have a ship, so it's fitting,” says Witham. “They just won’t be so ginormous.”

Around 50 volunteers helped staff transport books from the church to the library over two weekends, with the final load – including furniture and fixtures – moved last Saturday.

According to assistant library directory Mallory Witham, one volunteer told her, “I cannot think of a better way to serve this community than to get that library put back together.”

“It almost made me want to cry,” Witham said. “It was so beautiful, and he's so right.”

The North Lake County Library Foundation has raised more than $2 million toward the project, which will cost around $2.5 million, and continues to fundraise to help pay for shelving and furniture. For information on how to contribute to the Next Chapter campaign, visit polsonlibraryfoundation.org.

    Assitant library director Mallory Witham and director Abbi Dooley take a break from moving in to the spacious and light-filled North Lake County Library to discuss it's many amenities. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
  

    Grownups Aaron Whitsell and Trevor Klehof Valley Tech ate lunch at the kids' table in the renovated North Lake County Library last Friday before continuing to install internet and phone cables. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
  

    Martel Construction superintendent Kenny Welch said his favorite part of remodeling Polson's library was constructing the pirate ship – the centerpiece of the new children's section. But the whole project, he said, "was lots of fun." (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)