116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
New Garrison Public Library nearly complete
The Garrison Public Library has come a long way since July 2011, when severe winds and heavy rains caused serious damage.
'That old building was pretty well destroyed,” said Christy Leckband, vice president of the Garrison Public Library board. 'The storm didn't totally take it down but it damaged it beyond repair. It also had mold and asbestos issues. We decided that the best course of action would be to build a new library.”
The library has entered its last phase of construction, Leckband said. Work is being finished on a multipurpose room on the north side of the building. There also will be a city office and a kitchen, she said.
Leckband said the library board has some money to complete this final phase, and she anticipates the entire project will be completed by January of next year.
The library board had to raise $350,000 to get the project started, said Dorothy Readnour, a library board member who has lived in Garrison for 50 years. The group raised money through grants, donations from the Garrison High School Alumni Association and fundraisers. In addition, the group received insurance money from the city of Garrison, which has a little more than 300 residents.
Groundbreaking for the first phase of construction began in May 2014. The first phase included constructing the exterior part of the building, Leckband said, as well as the bathrooms and drywall.
The second phase, which was completed in October, included electrical work, permanent lighting, the ceiling and carpeting.
Leckband, who has been on the library board since 2001, said the library has been instrumental in providing residents with activities.
'All of us library board members could not envision not having a library for our town because we don't have a lot of resources, we don't have a lot of things for kids to do,” she said. 'We don't have a school.”
Leckband said she is most excited about the programs the library can now offer. One popular program with children involves Legos. There also is an after school program for children that provides activities and snacks.
For adults, there are coloring classes and a program called Puzzles and Pastries.
'I'm excited about the things we can offer to the community of all ages, not just a certain demographic,” Leckband said.
Kylee Kirchner, 9, of Garrison holds up a lego to Library Director Angela Dague of Garrison while Izzie Birker, 9, of rural Garrison works on a project at the table in the Garrison Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. The library holds a club for third through sixth grade students on Thursdays to build, play, and learn with legos with Library Director Angela Dague. The library remains under construction in the third and final phase of the work since a severe storm in July of 2011 and is expected to be completed in January of 2017. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Caroline Erickson, 12, of Garrison builds a lego project at the Garrison Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. The library holds a club for third through sixth grade students on Thursdays to build, play, and learn with legos with Library Director Angela Dague. The library remains under construction in the third and final phase of the work since a severe storm in July of 2011 and is expected to be completed in January of 2017. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Renee Gram, 11, of Garrison (left to right) Kylee Kirchner, 9, of rural Garrison, and Izzie Birker, 9, of rural Garrison work on a project together at the Garrison Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. The library holds a club for third through sixth grade students on Thursdays to build, play, and learn with legos with Library Director Angela Dague. The library remains under construction in the third and final phase of the work since a severe storm in July of 2011 and is expected to be completed in January of 2017. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Kids shoes and coats sit outside the main library room at the Garrison Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. The library holds a club for third through sixth grade students on Thursdays to build, play, and learn with legos with Library Director Angela Dague. The library remains under construction in the third and final phase of the work since a severe storm in July of 2011 and is expected to be completed in January of 2017. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
The group of kids from the lego club pose for a photo taken by Library Director Angela Dague of Garrison at the Garrison Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. The library holds a club for third through sixth grade students on Thursdays to build, play, and learn with legos with Library Director Angela Dague. The library remains under construction in the third and final phase of the work since a severe storm in July of 2011 and is expected to be completed in January of 2017. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Skylar Bridgewater, 8, of Garrison and Izzie Birker, 9, of rural Garrison play together in a play beach house at the Garrison Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. The library holds a club for third through sixth grade students on Thursdays to build, play, and learn with legos with Library Director Angela Dague. The library remains under construction in the third and final phase of the work since a severe storm in July of 2011 and is expected to be completed in January of 2017. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Izzie Birker, 9, of rural Garrison digs through a bin of legos at the Garrison Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. The library holds a club for third through sixth grade students on Thursdays to build, play, and learn with legos with Library Director Angela Dague. The library remains under construction in the third and final phase of the work since a severe storm in July of 2011 and is expected to be completed in January of 2017. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
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