Waterville Public Library to expand into vacated space

by Kelli Boylen

For almost 20 years the Waterville Public Library has been nestled into about 550 square feet. Now, thanks to the new Waterville Emergency Services building, the library will be able to expand.
When the fire department and ambulance service moved last September, they left empty space adjoining the current library location on Main Street in Waterville. When the members of the Waterville Library Board first started talking about expanding into that space, they were looking at what once was the ambulance bay, which is closest to where they currently are.
One of the biggest desires for the Waterville Library has been to have direct access to a restroom. The Board soon realized that it would be cost prohibitive to move into the space directly next door because there was a concrete floor and no basement and therefore no easy way to install a restroom.
Board members bounced around ideas last fall, and soon realized using the current Waterville Town Hall would be the most cost effective.
“Libraries today need to offer more than just books,” said Waterville Library Director Heather Bente. “We need to be more like a community center and offer more to the public.”
The Board members started seeking funding late last fall. They were successful in obtaining three grants:  $9,000 from the Allamakee Community Foundation, $4,600 from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, and paint for the project from the Diamond Vogel Paint and Keep Iowa Beautiful program.
The Library Board will be sending out a mailing later this summer to help cover the cost of tables and chairs, bookshelves, a circulation desk, landscaping and signage.
A crew from Ashbacher's Building Supply will start the remodeling later this summer. The current town hall will have the paneling removed and the walls will be insulated and sheet-rocked. Electrical updates will be made as needed and outlets will be added, the entrance will be changed and the bathroom will be remodeled to be handicap accessible.
The kitchen area will remain as it is, and a small part of the old fire station will be available to the library as storage and possibly a meeting room. “The new library area will about double our current space,” said Bente.
She explained that libraries have to change with technology. “We always need to be looking at new ways to get people in the door. One way to do that is to have more programming.”
With the new space, the Waterville Library will be able to have more children’s programming, including story hours, programming for adults such as learning workshops or “how to” classes, and family events such as performers or speakers.
Bente said they plan on having shelving for books around the perimeter of the room and they hope to have other shelves and desks be mobile to better allow the space to be used for a variety of activities.
Activities the Waterville Library have offered in the past include a Fall Fest with children’s activities, making holiday wreaths, basket weaving, scrapbooking and a class regarding “how-to” sell on eBay.
“We are really excited about the possibility of having more programming, and that there will be a restroom and kitchen area available for those programs,” Bente said.
They hope to be in the new library by fall. In the meantime, Bente is working to complete book series' of popular authors in both the adult and children’s collections, so they can best plan for their future space needs.
“We currently have kids who will read through all the books we have available for their age during the summer reading programs,” she said. “We are looking forward to being able to offer the kids more.”
Currently, the Waterville Library has more than 5,000 books for adults, children, and young adults and 700 DVD and VHS titles available for check-out. They have public access computers and wireless internet, interlibrary loan services and books on local history.
The Waterville Library is a member of NEIBORS (North Eastern Iowa Bridge to Online Resource Sharing), which offers library patrons access to thousands of e-books and audio books. To learn more go to www.waterville.lib.ia.us.
“We may be a small library, but when you look at the number of items checked out per capita we actually have higher numbers than some of the larger libraries in our corner of northeast Iowa,” Bente said.
Funding for the Waterville Library comes from the City of Waterville, Paint Creek Township, Allamakee County and Iowa Library Services. The library always appreciates private donations as well.
The current library will be converted to a meeting area for the City of Waterville. Anyone who is interested in donating to the project, helping with fundraising or organizing a fundraising event, or would be willing to help with the moving of the library collection to the new space later this fall is urged to contact the Waterville Library at director@waterville.lib.ia.us or by calling 563-535-7295.

The Waterville Library was organized in 1994 by a group of volunteers. The library is currently open Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the last Saturday of each month.
The Waterville Public Library is governed by a group of seven volunteer trustees which include President Mary Techau, Amy Hagen, Marlys Leiran, Kari Kelly, Sharon Palmer, Cindy Gibbs and Russ Hagen.