Jan. 1, 2009
New Salt Rock Library Opening January 11
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
The new Salt Rock Branch Library is getting ready for its grand opening. The ceremony will be held on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. In addition, there will be a day of celebration for the children attending Salt Rock School on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009. The ribbon cutting will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and the program will begin around 2:15. Scheduled speakers include Bill Smith, Superintendent of Schools: Senator Robert Plymale; the President of the Cabell County Commission and J. D. Waggoner, Director of the West Virginia Library Commission.
The story of the new Salt Rock Library has a long history. While the library had been located in a classroom at the Salt Rock School for many years, library officials and the board of directors had been on the lookout for a better location where the facility could be expanded and improved. In 2001, an opportunity to purchase a lot on Madison Creek Road across from the school became available and the library wasted no time in acquiring that property.
Now that the library had the property, there was only one little problem – there was no money in the budget for construction. Our Legislators allocated funds through the Budget Digest to develop a layout and a rendering of the outside of the building as well as some funding for construction. Additional major funding was provided through the West Virginia Library Commission and some money was saved each year from the library’s operating budget. Other significant donors were The Huntington Foundation and the Friends of the Library. Pavers were sold and many bought them as a memorial to a loved one and to honor a group or individual.
Upon getting some initial estimates, it was determined that some modifications and cost-saving measures would need to be taken. At the same time, the library administration wanted to incorporate as many “green” features as possible that would either save money initially or would save money in the cost of operation as well as being environmentally friendly. These changes were incorporated by the architects to reduce the cost, but the building still retained virtually the same floor plan and square footage.
The basic structure was changed from a stone façade with a flat roof to a steel panel exterior and a “V”-shaped steel roof. The steel panels on the exterior walls and roof were not only cheaper but can eventually be recycled. The “V”-shaped roof esthetically gives the appearance of an open book, but in addition, the rain water will be collected in two cisterns and used for watering plants and other outdoor needs thus saving water. Most of the windows can be opened to allow air to flow through the library on temperate days and save energy. The original barren property now has an abundance of trees, shrubs, and native flowering plants and bushes that will not only enhance the beauty of the area but will also provide oxygen and help clean the air. And that’s just a few of the exterior features.
Some of the green features inside the building include high-efficiency non-CFC heat pumps that don’t use the refrigerant gas called Freon that is harmful to the ozone in the earth’s atmosphere, water-saving toilets, energy-saving electronic ballasts used in the fluorescent lighting and compact fluorescent bulbs used in most fixtures instead of incandescent light bulbs. Even the carpeting is made from recycled materials and can be recycled at a later date. Likewise, much of the furniture finishes and most of the paint is low in V.O.C.’s (volatile organic components) which is a leading cause of indoor air pollution and environmental concerns.
The resulting building is a little over 5,000 square feet and has paved parking for 32 vehicles. It is handicapped accessible and includes many features to assist those with disabilities. The interior includes increased shelving space to expand the collection, a meeting room that will seat up to 50 people, a kitchen for the use of clubs and community organizations, a children’s area, six public computer workstations, wireless Internet access, a local history and reading room and even an outdoor reading room.
No longer will the community need to go into the school to use the library and in fact, school children will just need to walk across the road to use the new facility.
It is hoped that this new library will become the cornerstone for further growth and development in the area and that the community will enjoy the library for many years to come. We hope that many will join us for the grand opening and be a part of this new era in library service for the Salt Rock area.
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New Salt Rock Library Opening January 11
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
The new Salt Rock Branch Library is getting ready for its grand opening. The ceremony will be held on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. In addition, there will be a day of celebration for the children attending Salt Rock School on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009. The ribbon cutting will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and the program will begin around 2:15. Scheduled speakers include Bill Smith, Superintendent of Schools: Senator Robert Plymale; the President of the Cabell County Commission and J. D. Waggoner, Director of the West Virginia Library Commission.
The story of the new Salt Rock Library has a long history. While the library had been located in a classroom at the Salt Rock School for many years, library officials and the board of directors had been on the lookout for a better location where the facility could be expanded and improved. In 2001, an opportunity to purchase a lot on Madison Creek Road across from the school became available and the library wasted no time in acquiring that property.
Now that the library had the property, there was only one little problem – there was no money in the budget for construction. Our Legislators allocated funds through the Budget Digest to develop a layout and a rendering of the outside of the building as well as some funding for construction. Additional major funding was provided through the West Virginia Library Commission and some money was saved each year from the library’s operating budget. Other significant donors were The Huntington Foundation and the Friends of the Library. Pavers were sold and many bought them as a memorial to a loved one and to honor a group or individual.
Upon getting some initial estimates, it was determined that some modifications and cost-saving measures would need to be taken. At the same time, the library administration wanted to incorporate as many “green” features as possible that would either save money initially or would save money in the cost of operation as well as being environmentally friendly. These changes were incorporated by the architects to reduce the cost, but the building still retained virtually the same floor plan and square footage.
The basic structure was changed from a stone façade with a flat roof to a steel panel exterior and a “V”-shaped steel roof. The steel panels on the exterior walls and roof were not only cheaper but can eventually be recycled. The “V”-shaped roof esthetically gives the appearance of an open book, but in addition, the rain water will be collected in two cisterns and used for watering plants and other outdoor needs thus saving water. Most of the windows can be opened to allow air to flow through the library on temperate days and save energy. The original barren property now has an abundance of trees, shrubs, and native flowering plants and bushes that will not only enhance the beauty of the area but will also provide oxygen and help clean the air. And that’s just a few of the exterior features.
Some of the green features inside the building include high-efficiency non-CFC heat pumps that don’t use the refrigerant gas called Freon that is harmful to the ozone in the earth’s atmosphere, water-saving toilets, energy-saving electronic ballasts used in the fluorescent lighting and compact fluorescent bulbs used in most fixtures instead of incandescent light bulbs. Even the carpeting is made from recycled materials and can be recycled at a later date. Likewise, much of the furniture finishes and most of the paint is low in V.O.C.’s (volatile organic components) which is a leading cause of indoor air pollution and environmental concerns.
The resulting building is a little over 5,000 square feet and has paved parking for 32 vehicles. It is handicapped accessible and includes many features to assist those with disabilities. The interior includes increased shelving space to expand the collection, a meeting room that will seat up to 50 people, a kitchen for the use of clubs and community organizations, a children’s area, six public computer workstations, wireless Internet access, a local history and reading room and even an outdoor reading room.
No longer will the community need to go into the school to use the library and in fact, school children will just need to walk across the road to use the new facility.
It is hoped that this new library will become the cornerstone for further growth and development in the area and that the community will enjoy the library for many years to come. We hope that many will join us for the grand opening and be a part of this new era in library service for the Salt Rock area.
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