Construction On New Library Starts Today

Spokane City Public Library officials break ground on the new Shadle Park library in a ceremony open to the public today at 11 a.m.

The $1.8 million branch building will sit at the northwest corner of Shadle Park.

Completion is scheduled for May 1997, with the cost covered by a major improvements bond approved by voters in 1990.

The current Shadle Park library fills a cramped one-room storefront at Shadle Shopping Center.

The city will also make about $400,000 in improvements to the park itself to be completed over the next year. Those include tearing up four tennis courts and replacing them with a tree-lined walkway.

The city Parks Department will add new playground equipment, put a new roof on the park amphitheater and remodel the picnic area.

The Shadle Park branch library is the third busiest in the city. Its monthly circulation averages 38,000 items. Only the main downtown library and the new South Hill branch have higher totals.

Once finished, the Shadle Park branch will have at least 20 new computers to assist staff and patrons. About four of those will be for Internet information tracking. About 12 will be general circulation machines, and four or five will be devoted just for children’s use.

The branch’s collection of materials is also going to grow about 25 percent. That will raise the collection from 95,000 items to about 115,000 books, CD-ROMs and videos.

Designing the new branch is Northwest Architecture Company. Construction will be done by Hartanov/Fuller General Contractors.

, DataTimes