Renovated LaFayette-Walker Public Library to reopen Dec. 1

Temporary library in old Food Lion closed until then

photo LaFayette Library Manager Tim York gently lowers a cart full of books out of a moving truck Monday during the transition between the old library location to the new one on South Duke Avenue in LaFayette, Ga.
photo Library books wrapped in cellophane sit on a cart Monday during the move between the old library location to the new one on South Duke Avenue in LaFayette, Ga.

LaFAYETTE, Ga. -- The $4 million renovation of the public library has had setbacks and delays.

Plywood boards went up over the windows in the summer of 2013, for example, when a lack of funds put the project on hold and delayed a projected Oct. 15 grand opening.

But now a Monday, Dec. 1 grand opening is planned for the renovated LaFayette-Walker Public Library at 305 S. Duke St. The temporary library in a former Food Lion supermarket building at 1105 N. Main St. was closed Friday and -- with help from a crew of prisoners -- library staff started moving books, shelves and other items on Thursday and had a good chunk of the work done Monday afternoon.

"It's been fantastic," the library's Youth Education Coordinator Karen Thompson said. "Everything has gone smoothly, and we're excited for the public to see our new space."

Library Manager Tim York said things still have to be tested in the renovated library building on Duke Street, such as turning every device on at the same time to make sure the power supply can handle the load.

"We want to make sure that when we do open, we're in tip-top shape," he said.

The temporary library space in the former Food Lion was given to the library rent-free, York said, and people liked its location and easy parking. But the building has a leaky roof, he said, and he's had to replace ceiling tiles frequently. At any rate, he said, the old Food Lion building isn't available long-term.

"The space that we're moving back into ... it's beautiful," York said

The Cherokee Regional Library System cut the ribbon in August 2012 on a renovated library in Trenton, Ga., the seat of Dade County.

But the system has had to cut staff and hours at its branches in LaFayette, Rossville, Chickamauga and Trenton, because of lack of operational funding.

Walker County voters in May rejected a proposed quarter-cent property tax increase that would have roughly doubled the revenue at Walker County's three libraries from $158,000 annually now to between $300,000 to $350,000, -- which would have increased the hours they're open.

Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/tim.omarzu or twitter.com/TimOmarzu or 423-757-6651.

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