As of June 6, 2024, the Todd County Public Library has its “Certificate of Occupancy” from the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.
The document, which follows a state inspection on June 5, 2024, explains the long-awaited 12,900 square-foot facility has met the requirements of the 2018 Kentucky Building Code. On Tuesday, June 11, Robert Cates, Robbie Meacham, and Josh Cates of C&C Contracting, LLC of Russellville met with Gary Violette of Violette Architecture/Interior Design of Clarksville, Tennessee; Audrea Clairmont, Todd County Public Library Director; and Carolyn Wells, trustee of the Todd County Public Library for a walk-through, highlighting some minor construction tweaks needed, and overall discussion of the 18-month long construction project.
The new Library, which has been made possible through a grant from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA), is a facility that will add much needed space for the Library patrons of Todd County. The KDLA grant financing the project will provide $212,150 yearly for the next 20 years to offset its cost. As many recall, this state grant allows the Library to occupy its first new construction facility since the Library’s inception in the late 20th Century. Total cost for the construction was approximately $4.1 million, a figure just slightly higher than what was projected in the Library’s KDLA grant application submitted in late 2021. Signing of a contract for the new construction occurred on November 17, 2022, followed immediately with a groundbreaking ceremony that same day. Although the project suffered some delays because of weather, the project progressed smoothly to the finish line.
Mrs. Joyce Edwards and Mrs. Tammy Maher, two employees of the current Library and Ms. Barbara Pugh, Hopkinsville Community College’s Adult Education Liaison for Todd County, also received a tour of the new facility on June 11. Mrs. Edwards, who has worked at the current facility on East Main Street for several years, immediately complimented the new building on its lighting and space. Her remarks echo the sentiments heard throughout the county that the Library is a “wonderful facility that is inviting to the public.” Mrs. Edwards also made note of the attractive cupola area adorning the center of the building and the covered porches that also provide much-needed shade to accommodate outside learning activities. Noteworthy as well are metal sun shades that adorn the back windows as well as the four windows of the cupola, a feature designed to add shade to the interior of the facility.
Features of the building include spaces for both adult and children’s books, an activities’ area with a designated space for storytelling, a designated computer room, a teen room, conference areas, quiet reading areas, a space designated for archives, office areas, a work room, restrooms, a Mom’s room, circulation area, and support spaces. The actual site development area includes 105,970 square feet along with 104 designated parking spaces. The gross building area is 12,894 square feet, an area almost three times the current size of the existing Library located at 302 South Main Street. Also of note is a foyer area with display cases on both walls, an attractive feature adding another layer to the Library and its programs and offerings. With the Library staff currently involved with its Summer Reading Program held in June, the anticipated opening of the new facility will occur in the next few months. Obviously, more furniture and other necessities will be purchased to accommodate the increased space.
For those not familiar with the services of the Library, the Todd County Public Library provides reading materials and DVDs as well as magazines and newspapers to the public; the Bookmobile also provides reading materials to citizens throughout the county who are not able to travel to the existing Library. Copiers and faxes are also available to the public with many other patrons being regular users of available computers. Quite a few visitors to the Library are there to delve more into their family’s history, and others are also there to view copies of the Todd County Standard, historical documents, and some class yearbooks of former schools in Todd County. GED classes are offered as well, and one of the most favorite current activities of the Library is “Storytime,” a designated time for the young ones of the county to enjoy a specialized reading activity designed especially for them. That activity, which typically occurs on Friday mornings throughout the year, also provides socialization skills for the younger age group.
It is again very important to express thanks to Kelvin and Lorie DeBerry, Brad and Mandy Shemwell, the late Guy Mallory, and the James Randolph Mallory family for their contributions making the site for the Library possible. The DeBerry and Shemwell families, partners in local real estate investments, sold the South Main Street property several years ago to the Library Board at a discounted price as the Board anticipated future construction and awaited a state KDLA grant. The late Guy Mallory and his father, the late James Randolph Mallory, and their family also donated, prior to Mr. Guy Mallory’s death in 2018, an additional piece of land enlarging the new site to its current size. Other members of the current Library Board include Heath Shemwell, Tiffany Groves, John Paul Leinbach, Mitzi Page, and CLW. Two members exiting the Board in the last few years who were instrumental in planning for the new Library include Mrs. Susan Carroll and Mrs. Brittany Prather.
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
June 18, 2024
