News : Grand opening: Garrison residents celebrate library progress

Roger Witt created this display to honor those who have contributed to the Garrison library.

Garrison library director Angela Dague helps Kadee Kirchner cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening.

Nearly ninety Garrison residents, including former librarians, city council members and library trustees, gathered outside the front door of the new library building to celebrate the progress the city has made in the past four years, and the hard work and determination that citizens showed in recovering from the storm that stole their library, Emergency Services Building and destroyed or damaged many homes.

Mayor Allan Lindsey welcomed the crowd and praised the library trustees for their vision of a new building, as well as the way they overcame many obstacles in order make the building a reality. He reminded the audience of how those leaders approached the council with their idea for a new building, and how they kept working when problems arose – like when the project bids came in much higher than expected.

The mayor’s motto for Garrison – “A Little Community with Big Dreams” – is painted in the entrance of the building, just around the corner from the “Bookshelf” tribute which includes the names of donors in a unique way. Roger Witt designed and created it with room to add more names on small pieces of wood that resemble books on a shelf.

Lindsey told the crowd that the word “Community” best defines Garrison because that word implies a connection that extends beyond years and borders.

And the Garrison library includes tributes to the city’s history. A red and white cheerleading uniform – once worn by library board member Dorothy Readnour – is among the items on display in the community room that is still taking shape. Along with that uniform is a photo of cheerleaders from a half-century ago, including Readnour and Ann Jorgensen, who also spoke at the event.

Several editions of the Garrison Rockets high school yearbook, along with a few decades-old editions of “Garrison Gossip” also offer residents a chance to remember the history of that small community.

The International clock, with its mechanisms visible behind the glass that protects them – is something many Garrison alumni remember from their school days.

Library leaders say the new building is part of the renovation of Garrison that followed the devastating storm. Even the newest Garrison residents have become volunteers who helped work on the new building.

Christy Leckband, one of the leaders of the library project, reminded the audience that the work is still in progress. The community room remains under construction; several citizens are working on a grant to help pay for installation of electrical components.

Jorgensen told the audience how Readnour and others recently presented their grant application to the board of the foundation that funds such projects.

“They asked what we would do with the money, and Dorothy said, ‘Build a wall,’” said Jorgensen.

Library Director Angela Dague, along with several other former librarians, were among those recognized during Sunday’s ceremony.

Summer reading program prize: Ribbon cutting

Just one person held scissors for the ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday: Young reader Kadee Kirchner. In 2014, the Summer Reading Program offered the chance to cut the ribbon as part of the grand prize for the child who read the most books. Kadee read more than 200 books that summer; she said her favorite books are from the “David” series by children’s author David Shannon.

“She’s waited a long time to get her prize,” said Dague as she introduced Kadee.

The summer reading program is among the activities that have kept the library a busy place; the new facility has seen more visitors than the old downtown building – which has since been demolished.

Many thanks

Library leaders thanked many people who helped with the library after the storm. Volunteers helped save books and other historical items when the brick roof ended up in the street. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church became the temporary library and Nick and Charlotta Fisher offered the use of the Farmers Mercantile Hall for storage of library items as well as for fund-raising events.

Progress continues

Leckband said she was slightly disappointed that the library was not as fully completed for the Grand Opening as leaders expected.

But, she added, the project has been and continues to be an on-going process. Fund-raising continues and volunteers keep helping to complete the building. Soon there will be a community meeting room with a kitchen, as well as an office for the city.

Leckband is the wife of Rev. Mark Leckband. His prayer at the conclusion of the ceremony thanked God for keeping all of Garrison’s citizens safe during the storm, as well as offering a word of thanks to all who have helped make that community’s latest big dream a reality.

See the Garrison Library Facebook page HERE.