Plans for children's area at future Twelve Bridges library revised

Revised plans for the children's area at the future Lincoln Public Library at Twelve Bridges drew a positive reaction at the Jan. 4 Lincoln Library Board meeting."We want to keep it safe and visible," said Darla Wegener, director of library services for the city. "The library attracts all types of people, good, bad and ugly."Wegener told board members about some of the changes made to the original design for the children's area at the Twelve Bridges library. Among them was moving the toddler area, which was located right next to an exit."I have a pre-schooler," Wegener said, "and I know how children at that age like to get up and run off."Other changes to the children's area include rearranging bookshelves that blocked a line-of-sight between the librarian's desk and several windows. The children's area also was reconfigured to accommodate a circular storytime area.There also are areas where parents can sit and read with their children, as well as areas where students can study together."We've made it more functional," Wegener said.Wegener also spoke about the timeline for when the new library will be built. Even though the project is slightly behind schedule, Wegener said local library officials are still pointing towards late spring in 2007 as the opening target date. The reason why the project is behind schedule is because Lincoln library officials had to answer 93 different questions from the state library board, which reviewed the initial construction documents.The revised construction documents are about ready to be re-submitted to the state, Wegener noted, and the city is looking at putting the project out for bid within a month. She added the earliest construction might begin is April.Wegener also updated the library board on the status of the renovation to the upstairs portion of the downtown Carnegie library. All of the books have been moved from the library to a temporary spot at the former Lighthouse and WIC buildings, located a block away at the northwest corner of Sixth and F streets.Wegener said last week that she expects the temporary site to be open sometime this week. Library officials had considered reducing the hours but opted to maintain the same hours, staying open late twice a week to accommodate the requests of school children.The hours of the library remain 10 a.m. to5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 2:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.Now that the books have been moved out of the upstairs portion of the Carnegie library, the renovation work can begin, she added.The library board also approved draft policy proposals for library cards and library card applications. The new cards will help streamline operations, Wegener noted.Instead of library patrons carrying two cards, one to check out books and one to use the Internet, one card will suffice for both services.Wegener said the Lincoln City Council has the final say on the policy proposals. She hopes to have them ready for the Jan. 24 council meeting.In other business, Shirley Russell updated the board on Friends of the Lincoln Library news. The Friends decided to change their meeting from 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month to 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday. Previously the Friends met just prior to the library board meeting and Friends members felt they were too rushed to get through their business before the second meeting.Russell also reported the storytime hours, which had been held upstairs at the Carnegie library, will be held at 10 a.m. every Wednesday at the WIC building during the renovation.Friends membership letters are slated to go out this week, Russell said. Currently there are about 200 members."I'd like to see 500," Russell said.Membership is $15 for individuals, and $25 for families or businesses.Russell also reported the next open mic poetry reading is set for 3-5 p.m. Sunday at the Scout Hall on F Street behind the Carnegie library. It is open to poets of all ages. There were about 30 poets at the last open mic event. Contact Sue Clark at 434-9226 for more information.