Library showing signs of age
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Jen Barry, 20, a page for the summer at Lilian S. Besore Memorial Library, shelves books protected by plastic. The ceiling tile above her shows signs of the roof leak following a recent rain.

Kay Witmer received a phone call that the roof was leaking June 13. As president of the Lilian S. Besore Memorial Library Board, she checked out the situation the next morning.

Fortunately the water from a summer rainstorm dripped only in the aisles, and books and other materials were spared. But it was a sign of what the board knew was coming. It was time to seriously investigate maintenance issues on the 44-year-old building.

The board had earlier authorized some repairs and sprucing up to the three sections of the facility. Outside grass was replanted and volunteer Suzanne Snyder put numerous flowers around the property.

A contractor was hired to close a gap in the front door, put on new stair treads and tiles in the back entry and repair holes in the ceiling and wall, left from the removal of the old air conditioning system.

Aplumber tended to some immediate needs. Interior painting is scheduled. Ceiling tiles from the recent rain will be replaced and the roof has been repaired.

That is all well and good but it's not enough.

"Library needs are changing," said Witmer. "We are looking at what we need to do on an aging building to meet those needs."

The board is going to use this opportunity to evaluate the direction it should take on the use and purpose of the building, she said. It will replace the entire roof at some point, as well as the interior lighting, for which replacement parts are no longer available. Some of the windows are singlepane and leak so will be replaced.

In the wider scope, the board wants to utilize the entire space efficiently, which could mean rearranging offices, entrances, materials, storage space and room usage. Witmer said it is considering remodeling or an addition.

She asked the Friends of the Library for suggestions on needs and dreams for the facility. Witmer said major changes can not be adequately financed by the interest from the library's trust fund, so public involvement will be crucial as the library moves forward in this century.

The library was built in 1963 with funds donated by Calvin Jefferson Besore in memory of his mother. Additions were put on in 1972 and 1990. It has two basements which are not connected.

In the past few years the library has added two computer centers. It has 36,000 items which may be checked out. It offers programs for all ages year round. The staff is open to adding new programs to meet specific needs of the community.

As a core facility in Greencastle, the board wants the busy library to remain vibrant and valuable for patrons in the future.