New Moran Prairie Library Will Open Saturday

Thu., June 1, 2000

By Carlos Acevedo carlosa@spokesman.com

A new library in the Moran Prairie neighborhood should make borrowing books as easy as one-stop shopping.

The Spokane County Library District will open a branch in the Moran Prairie neighborhood with a brief ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday. The library is located in the Cedar Canyon Village shopping center, 3022 E. 57th, and will be open 40 hours each week.

The library makes checking out books considerably more convenient.

Previously, area residents who wanted a library book had to travel to Cheney, the closest county library branch, or pay to use nearby city libraries.

Books were dropped off at a book return in front of Fire District 8’s Moran Prairie station. That return was closed two weeks ago and replaced by a new book return built into the front wall of the new facility.

Since Moran Prairie and Glenrose Prairie residents, who are outside the city limits, already are paying via their property tax to use county library facilities, they should have a library close by, said County Library Director Mike Wirt. Leasing store space was the most cost-efficient way to get a library established.

“The storefront (library) is a stopgap so we could quickly provide service,” he said. “The ultimate plan is to build a full-size branch.”

With 2,800 square feet, the library is the smallest of the county’s branch libraries. The average runs about 8,000 square feet.

The library collection is limited to about 10,000 books, videos, CDs and CD-ROM programs. Patrons willing to wait one to two days will be able to order and receive any of the 425,000 items available at other county libraries.

A courier service delivers and picks up at the library once a day.

Electronic databases and Internet access will also be provided from six computers.

“While the physical space is relatively small, the resources available through the branch are virtually limitless,” Wirt said. “Computer technology is leveling the playing field so small libraries like Moran Prairie can offer materials and information that not long ago were available only from the largest ones.”

The library is opening in time for the kickoff of the annual summer reading program. Special programs to be held in the library include weekly preschool-age storytimes and a special “Clue-Done-It” mystery program for teens.

There will also be a full schedule of weekly programs held in the Moran Prairie Elementary School multipurpose room, including a puppet show for all ages. The summer reading program runs June 21 through Aug. 9.

Detailed program information is available from any county library branch and the district’s Web site: www.scld.lib.wa.us.

The Spokane County Library District, which now has 10 library branches, serves unincorporated Spokane County and nine smaller cities and towns.

FAST FACTS Moran library times Library hours are Mondays through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays, 1 to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be closed Thursdays and Sundays.

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