After pooling together over five million dollars in grants and donations from individuals, organizations, and government entities, the new Talkeetna Public Library is open to the public. KTNA’s Phillip Manning got a tour of the new facility and has this report:
When I arrived at the new Talkeetna Public Library and Community Center, it had just opened for the day. Still, a few patrons were already browsing the aisles or making use of the publicly available computers.
For those familiar with the old Talkeetna library building, the new facility offers a number of immediately apparent improvements. It’s larger, more open, and lets in a lot of natural light. Librarian Ann Yadon is clearly proud of the new library.
“It’s just a gorgeous building, and we’re really enjoying being here.”
Ann Yadon walks me through the building, smiling nearly the whole time as she points out features. We began at the donor wall, which gives recognition to the individuals and groups that donated funds or in-kind services to make the new building a reality. The donor wall was built by local artist Jeff Lebegue, and was carved to resemble a bookshelf,
with the names of donors on the spines of “books.”
We then proceed to the multi-purpose room, which provides a much larger meeting space than the old library. The room already held its first public meeting earlier this week, when the Talkeetna Community Council met in the new library for the first time. Ann Yadon says the meeting gave some perspective on the room’s total capacity.
“It was planned for about fifty people. I think we had thirty-plus Monday night…So, we can do fifty. It might be a little bit tight, but it’s definitely doable.”
Around the corner from the multi-purpose room is the children’s area. There are interactive, toy-like wall decorations and many shelves of books for young readers. Ann Yadon says that the area also provides more room for parents and their children to read together.
“Over here is…an area where parents can sit with their children. There’s a rocking chair and this…comfy chair…and there’s a little reading nook for children.”
There are also two computers, one more than at the old facility, that teach children literacy through games and other activities in the children’s area.
Walking through the main corridor of the library, Ann Yadon and I move on to the teen room, which she describes as one of the best features of the new building.
“This is the teen area, so this is where we put the young adult books. They’ve got a place to sit; they’ve got one of these café-sized tables where you can sit with a laptop. We’ve also got two PC’s.”
Ann Yadon says that the goal of the dedicated area for teens is to keep them engaged with reading.
“We’re hoping to be able to draw more and more of them in. This is the age where, sometimes, you lose, and we’re hoping to get them back.”
Next to the teen area is a small conference room that will be used, among other things, for homeschool tutoring and proctoring of exams for distance learning. Across the main floor of the library is the lounge area, which is furnished comfortable reading chairs and large windows. Ann Yadon says the area is already popular with library patrons.
“This is what we’ve termed our “adult lounge,” although, of course, it’s open to everyone, but this is where the fireplace is. It is electrical, and we’ll be able to turn that on in the winter. This is the area where people seem to really like to come to sit and read or sit and think, even.”
The lounge is situated among the main shelves of the new library, which have plenty of room for more books. The current plan is to incrementally increase the library’s collection through operating funds as well as donations, including those coordinated by the Friends of the Talkeetna Library, a 501c(3) non-profit.
As we walk back to the front desk, Ann Yadon explains that, despite the building’s increased size over its predecessor, that it is designed to cost less to run.
“If the planning is correct, and it seems to be, so far, it will save money, both on electrical use and heating.”
That’s because of more modern building techniques and insulation as well as technology.
For some, especially those who primarily walk or bike, the new Talkeetna Public Library is less convenient to reach. Ann Yadon says, to compensate for that, Sunshine Transit will be adding it to the list of regular shuttle stops.
