Turning the page on PCPL year

This year saw many new things happening at the Putnam County Public Library, and no one could have missed the biggest one.

In September 2016 the library purchased an adjoining house for $78,000, and in October 2016 accepted a bid of about $8,500 from Spiker Excavating to demolish the house and lay down a gravel lot to make way for its plans of an extended parking lot.

Director Carson said the library had looked into the home’s historical value before deciding to demolish it, expecting public backlash, but found no historical value.

In January CECon, the engineering firm on the project, created a plan that would change traffic flow, add 16-18 parking spots, more lighting and better landscaping for $147,000, but Director Carson said this was “not feasible,” and in February CECon presented a second plan to redo the parking lines, add a softer 90-degree turn, improve drainage, pave the gravel lot to add 12-16 more spaces and add a new entrance on Walnut Street for $70,000.

In April the library accepted a bid (the only one submitted) from Spiker Excavating, and the work finally began in May. After the new entrance on Walnut Street opened in June and patrons kept going the wrong way on the street to reach it, the library decided to reverse traffic flow through the parking lot.

The library had hoped to finish the project by the end of summer, but in September the entire project was finally complete, except for one last thing.

In December the library put on the finishing touches by adding a memorial to Katherine Harbison, former owner of the demolished home and a cherished library patron. She passed away late this summer.

Other major events:

-- Ellen Sedlack: The library mourned the passing of former director Ellen Sedlack in January. Sedlack had served from 1972 to 2001, and continued serving the library (as Director Grier Carson pointed out) by requesting that donations be made to the library in lieu of flowers in her obituary. The Sedlack Fund aids the purchase of print books.

-- Interlibrary Loan (ILL): In the works since January, the library launched its own Interlibrary Loan program

-- PALS: The Putnam Adult Literacy Service officially launched this past fall. It is the first program of its kind at the library. Adults who wish to learn or improve their reading and writing receive access to volunteer tutors who work with them on one-on-one to provide immediate help.

-- PALS Pups: Also a first, some of the library staff and their fuzzy friends have gone through training to provide patrons, who might otherwise be a little shy of reading aloud, with a non-judgmental ear.