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Athena Library: The Tour

Entrance area includes automatic door access for those with limited mobility, a special rug to catch mud and water, a bench, a coat rack (works for back packs too), and some space designated for notices and displays.

The reading lounge with its fireplace is an inviting and useful space for art exhibits and musical performances; new book displays; research and homework tasks; small group meetings; or just for relaxing in the comfy chairs. Please note that plaques here and elsewhere will be placed over the summer to recognize donors who designated contributions for art works, display cases, chairs, tables, and other items. On the shelves in this area, you will find excellent non-fiction collections, including National Geographics, coffee table photography and travel books, biographies, histories, and more. In the back corner are audio books (tapes and CDs).

The circulation desk includes public use copier, book return, and other service facilities. Soon there will be a scanner for checking out books, as the Umatilla County Special Libraries District (UCSLD) provides technical assistance and funding to automate our library. Watch for announcements to obtain your bar-coded library card so you can easily use this facility or any other of the dozen libraries in the district (Weston, Pendleton, Milton-Freewater, etc.) without getting a separate card for each.

Also at the circulation counter are commonly needed reference volumes such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, Books In Print, Foundation Directory, etc. Behind the counter is the staff office and work room.

Opposite the service counter is the adult fiction collection, with public access computer work stations near the east side windows and a doorway to the courtyard.

Further along on your right is a drinking fountain, an ADA-compliant rest room, the new books shelf and the local history room with its separately controlled humidity and temperature to meet archival preservation guidelines. Materials in this area will be organized to enable easy research into the community and regional heritage as well as family history. Included are church histories, cemetery records, census information, school registers, historic photos, Hodaka files, the Athena Press, and memorabilia.

Next come areas for children and teens, located opposite each other, with age-appropriate book collections and designated computer stations in each. At the left, teens can gather to play board games, relax and socialize, or do homework. On the right, there are chapter and picture books, plus space for crafts, story times, and ready-to-read programming for the younger set. Nearby is the movie collection.

Through the double doors, with etched glas design of game birds and wheat, is the multi-purpose meeting and activity room with its own outside entrance and a kitchenette. The Watts Collection is shelved here. At the far right corner are storage closets, wiring and heating controls, and an ADA-compliant rest room with changing table.

Exterior: Heating/cooling systems are in a rooftop mezzanine, visible from the south side alley. Sidewalk security lighting along outside east wall automatically come on at night. Alley curb cut eases wheelchair access. Parking is mainly in front; some at rear for meetings. Book drops will be both front and rear eventually. Stained glass panels will be in place by September Grand Opening.

QUICK FACTS

DONOR RECOGNITION

The new library has been made possible through tremendous support from individuals, businesses, organizations, governments, and foundations. The effort is a gift to the community for decades to come.

On the east side exterior of the new building are niches which will have two large plaques. The Wall of Honor recognizes donors to the Library Building Fund. The second plaque will list all those who participated in a special giving effort to become members of the Square Foot Club.

Inside, small plaques will thank contributors for sponsoring particular furnishings, the fireplace, and the permanent art works. All the plaques should be in place by the Grand Opening in September. Many of the funding entities have also been listed in the ALFA CONNECTIONS newsletter, newspaper articles, city newsletter, and noted on ALFA website.

FINE TUNING and ADDITIONS

Further additions and refinements are planned (some before the September Grand Opening and formal dedication and others as funds are obtained or staff and volunteers have time):