Williams Library: One Year Later

Last April, we were excited to celebrate the grand reopening of the Sue Cowan Williams Library. The building had been closed for about six months for extensive renovations—its first major upgrade since opening in 1997.

As we look ahead to the reopening of the Main Library this fall, we thought it was the perfect time to reflect on the great things happening at the Williams Library one year later.

We asked Latina Sheard, branch manager of the Williams Library, to share her thoughts.

It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since we reopened the doors to our remodeled Sue Cowan Williams Library! It feels like just yesterday we were watching construction crews put on the finishing touches.

I’m always excited that our patrons are still walking through the doors every day, loving the space, and telling us how much they appreciate it—it reminds me why we did this in the first place.

If I had to pick my top three favorite upgrades, they would be:

• The addition of the programming kitchen. I always wanted a space where we could offer hands-on learning experiences, and now we have it.
• The community fridge was a simple addition with a huge impact. The fridge has been a way for our community to support each other—whether someone needs a little extra help or someone else wants to give back. Libraries are more than books; we are about taking care of people, and the fridge has been a beautiful example of that.
• The addition of two larger meeting rooms was much needed for students, job seekers, and small groups to work—but I didn’t realize just how much they’d be used! These rooms stay booked, and I love seeing people take advantage of them.

The new teen space is a strong honorable mention that has been overdue since day one. Sharing a parking lot with Dunbar Middle School has made us a hub in the afternoons. For some time now, I’ve felt that our teens deserved a space of their own, and they have really made it their home.

 

 

Even though I’m completely in love with our remodeled library, I don’t feel that my job is ever done. My goal is to keep evolving this space to meet the needs of our community. And trust me, I already have a list of ideas for when the opportunity presents itself.

But for now, I am just grateful. Grateful for this space, grateful for our patrons, and grateful for the opportunity to serve. This first year has been incredible, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the Sue Cowan Williams Library. I’d love to hear from the public about their favorite parts of the library.