Big Snow!

The Slab Concrete Has Arrived

Preparing for Footing Walls

The foundation footings of the new library have been completed, and Jaynes Construction is now installing rebar and preparing to pour the footing walls. These walls are scheduled (weather permitting) to be poured this Friday, 10 October.

Construction has Officially Begun

The lot has been cleared, and footers formed! This week, the Jaynes Corp. has been pouring the footers.

Little People Storytime Visits the Building Site

Today the children of MPL's Little People Storytime sang songs and listened to stories about construction vehicles. Then... a trip to the new library building site! Enthusiasm was high on the walk down Grand Avenue and over the footbridge. Once at the building site, the children were so excited to see the big, loud, and very real working machinery.

During the next nine months, regualar visits will be made by the Little People Storytime group to the building site.

Clean Out the Old and Usher In the New

The Jaynes Company has started preparations for building! The building site is being cleared of debris, and there is now a fence around the site.

Construction, At Last

The Jaynes Company, the contractor of the new library, has moved to the building site and will start construction soon!

You'll also find things a bit different at our current location; we've added new display space at the library entrance. Rotating exhibits will feature books, magazines, and videos for all ages. This month's exhibit is "Green Building and Construction". Visit the library to see some examples of our new building, information on green building, and construction in general.

Plans for New Library Take Shape

An effort to construct a new Mancos Public Library is ongoing as the architect for the project, Dennis Humphries, continues his work on a conceptual design.

The proposed 7,500 square foot, one-story building is to be located near the corner of First and Mesa streets just off of the Mancos River. Spacing of the new facility is slated to be about three times the size of the current library, which opened in 1992, according to Director Patsy Smith.
"We're sort of packed in here like sardines," said Smith jokingly, who mentioned that the additional space will allow for the display of more books.

The library is expected to add about 5,000 books to its present total of 17,000.
"We'll have these books displayed in a more visually appealing way," Smith said.


Outdoor landscaping on the library grounds will allow patrons to sit outside and read by the Mancos River, Smith said. The size of the lot is about two-thirds of an acre. "Most people are seeing our project as a win-win situation," she added.

In addition to books and property, the library plans to increase the number of computers from seven to 11. A new 800 to 900-foot conference room will be able to sit 40 to 50 people.
Smith noted that two more part-time employees could be added to the current library staff, which would perhaps allow for additional weekday hours and being open on Sundays.
The library is presently closed on Sunday.

Smith is hopeful to break ground on the approximately $2 million project this fall, but if not, the potential start date would be in the spring of 2008. Once work begin, construction should take approximately one year, she said.

From the Mancos Times

Foot Bridge Across the Mancos River

Taken from the Library Building Site

Library Winter Dreamscape

Soil and Water Samples at Empire Park

Smith Drilling Company takes soil samples at five feet and water samples at 15 feet on Oct. 26 in the second phase of environmental testing in Empire Park, the proposed new home for the Mancos Public Library. This testing, along with the earlier surface soils testing, are funded by a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; a final report of the environmental testing will be completed by CDPHE by mid-November.

From the Mancos Times

Hazardous Materials Testing at Empire Park

Smith Drilling conducts the first phase of environmental testing on the surface soils. A grant funded by the Department of Public Health and Environment will cover testing to determine if the site is suitable to build upon.

Board Members look on as the testing is conducted.

Empire Park a Possibility for New Library Site

Photo
Library Board Members walk the Empire Park property Thursday evening. Empire Park, owned by Empire Electric and leased to the Town of Mancos, is now the sole focus in the library's search for a site to build a new and larger public library for the Mancos Valley. The subject will be on the agenda at the library board's next meeting, beginning at 6 p.m. tomorrow evening at the library; the public is welcome.
From the Mancos Times