Home at last! Grand Opening Saturday for Cottonwood’s new library

Photo by Michael Woodward

VIDEOS, TOO: Volunteers Jo Giessner, front, and Codie Powers shelved books at the new Cottonwood Community Library on July 25.

Photo by Michael Woodward

PRIDE OF COTTONWOOD: Director of Library Services Gayle Harrington stands in front of the new building to house the Cottonwood Community Library at 3427 Main St. in Cottonwood.

Photo by Michael Woodward

PUTTING THE LIBRARY TOGETHER: Volunteers assist in getting the library ready last week for its grand opening celebration on Saturday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Volunteer-driven, the Cottonwood Community Library will open amid a grand opening celebration Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its new building at 3427 Main St. The library’s opening is pending a final inspection and the occupancy permit.

At the opening, volunteers will be on hand to give tours and explain the facilities. Hot dogs and drinks will be served.

“We want families to come to show that we have things for children as well as seniors,” Director of Library Services Gayle Harrington said. “People have been so excited. They call us or stop by to see how the building is coming. People have wanted this for a long time.”

Although the library has received donations from the Shasta Public Libraries, the Cottonwood Community Library is truly a community library in that is not operated by the county. It will rely on donations from the community, Friends of the Cottonwood Library and Stewards of the Library. Details about the new program, Stewards of the Library, will be revealed at the grand opening.

From the land under the library to the books on the shelves, and including some of the construction itself, people in Cottonwood have contributed their time, money and resources to make the library a reality. The building is valued at approximately $400,000 and it will not have a mortgage according to Cottonwood Library Board President Renee Ashe.

“It’s because of all the generosity of all the contractors that worked only for parts, and some not even that,” Ashe said.

“We poured the foundation last year when we had $72,000. It was a gutsy thing, but we had to let people know we were serious.”

Dr. James Reifert of Cottonwood donated the land that the library rests on.

He also provided the seed money in 1996 that gave the library board real hope of someday having a building for its library.

“It’s cost us probably an eighth of what it would have cost because of all the volunteerism that’s gone into this building,” Harrington said. “We’ve had people stop by saying, ‘I’ve got a few hours; is there anything I can do?’ and some people give daily.”

As of late last week, boxes of books stood in the aisles and several computer components awaited hookup in the computer lab.

“To hear the buzz in the next room . . . It’s like a dream come true,” Harrington said as volunteers unpacked books and ordered them onto empty shelves.

The library will open with 17,000 books in its possession. Other items available for borrowing include books on tape, large-print books and videos.

A room near the entrance to the library will feature five computers for library patrons to use and view the Internet.

A conference room with a big screen television is available to rent out to groups. Weight Watchers has already signed up to use the room.

Also to take place in the conference room, but new to Cottonwood, will be the Genealogy and Family History course offered by the Shasta College Extension Program. The class will be offered in the fall semester, beginning Sept. 12. Shasta College is expected to offer more classes at the Cottonwood Community Library in spring.

“I feel there is a real need for them in southern Shasta County,” Harrington said.

The library will continue to offer the story time hosted by Elaine Lowell. The library will also offer an adult literacy proGram, as well as a Latino Family Literacy Program.

Currently, the Cottonwood Community Library boasts 1,200 card-carrying patrons who check out approximately 1,000 books each month.

As director, Harrington will serve at the only paid position at the library. Harrington was the librarian at Sacred Heart School for six years and volunteered in the East Cottonwood Elementary School for a year, where she worked with Sharon Thomas.

Thomas directed the Cottonwood Community Library from 1969 until 1988.

“Some people are lonesome,” Thomas said. “I used to say that running a library is a lot like being a bartender. Gayle can do that. It’s not just about getting people’s books for them.”

Cottonwood Community Library hours:

• Monday and Tuesday — 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Wednesday — 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Saturday — 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The library will be closed Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The library phone number is 347-4818.