Cape Girardeau's newly renovated library set to open May 16

Library director Betty Martin's dream is coming into sight as the nearly $9 million overhaul of Cape Girardeau Public Library is wrapping up.

On May 3, the library will close the doors at its temporary quarters at 301 S. Broadview St. and begin the big move back to the expanded building at 711 N. Clark Ave. On May 16, Martin plans a grand opening that will put the building on display to the public for the first time.

"It is a dream," Martin said Monday while standing near the new front service desk. Workers were bringing furniture, just delivered, to the library. "When I stand here, I just can't believe it and I can't wait for people to see it."

While the completed library is Martin's destination, she also hopes the vision put into the building will make it a destination for others as well. She uses Springfield, Mo., as her example, citing that city's recently constructed library as a model. In Springfield, Martin said, the library is one of the top tourist draws.

Voters approved a property tax in February 2007 to finance the construction project. The old library, about 19,000 square feet, was more than doubled in size to 39,000 square feet during the construction. The existing building was gutted and the new space -- with expanded children's areas, new meeting spaces and room for more computers -- was built onto the remaining structure.

The children's area is accented with color in the new Cape Girardeau Public Library. (FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com)

The most difficult construction task was creating a seamless space where it is impossible to see where the new and old portions of the library join, said interior designer Kent Munster as he looked over the hallway intended to evoke the Mississippi River.

The most satisfying part of the work, Munster said, was watching it come to life. The detailed plans for how the rooms should look were prepared on three-dimensional imaging software, he said. Now, with much of the interior finished, he said he's learned just how complete a view the computer design program provides.

"When I walked in last time and saw things for the first time in a couple of months, it looked just like the computer rendering," Munster said.

The open house is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 16. Members of the library board of directors and members of the support group Friends of the Library will get a sneak preview earlier in the week and be invited to participate in an auction of surplus library furniture.

Anyone who wants to take part can contact the library and join the Friends group at $15 a year or $25 for couples, Martin said.

Construction continues at the Cape Girardeau Public Library on Clark Avenue expected to open May 16.

To stretch the tax money dedicated to construction, the library sold naming rights for meeting rooms and theme areas. Seven donations giving naming rights have been received and include the Optimist Club Children's Activity room, the Union Pacific Study Room, the Clarence Schade Study Room, the Praxair Computer Lab, the Kirby Genealogy Room, the Penzel Conference Room and the Hirsch Community Room. There are also sponsored photo panels, Martin said.

Library officers would have preferred to have a "soft" opening to allow the public in before a formal ceremony, but time is too short to do so, she said.

Jokingly, Martin said the move will be helped if patrons will check out books before May 3 and return them to the new library location. The library will be staggering return dates around the period it will be closed and waive fines on items that are overdue during that period.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

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Pertinent address:

301 S. Broadview, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

711 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.