POPULAR PUBLIC LIBRARY GETTING A FACELIFT

The Cape Girardeau Public Library is getting a facelift. The almost 20-year-old building will be remodeled this fall with a new coat of paint and carpet.

Renovations will also be completed for the Hirsch Community Room, which is well used by community groups. The periodical room will be remodeled as well.

The difficult part of the process for the community will be a closed library for two weeks. Cape Girardeau's public library is well used, checking out more than 97,000 books and other items to patrons each year. In all, the library's collection contains 100,000 books, 1,300 videotapes, 1,200 books on tape, 700 compact discs and 1,000 large-print books.

The library is looking for a helping hand from community residents to prepare for the renovations. Much of the collection will have to be boxed and moved once the remodeling work begins.

Civic-minded residents interested in helping to box books and move shelving may contact the library at 334-5279.

With nearly 20 years of commendable service under its belt, the library deserves a facelift. Today, the library is competing not only with comfy bookstores, but with the research resources of the Internet available from the comfort of home.

No date has yet been set for the closing, but it will be this fall. It depends on shipment of remodeling supplies, but the public will receive a two weeks' notice when a date is announced.

The two-week closure may provide a stark reminder to many of the indispensable nature of Cape Girardeau's Public Library. That realization combined with a new look may help build traffic at this fundamental city service.