By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Two weeks after the Gardendale-Martha Moore Public Library re-opened, librarians say patrons are reacting well to the changes.

“They’re a little confused when they first walk in, but they like it,” said head librarian Connie Smith. “It went great. We did everything we wanted to do.”

There is some wiring and other minor touches left until the renovation is complete, but the facility is fully back in business.

The library was closed Aug. 1-15 so employees could rearrange sections, purge unneeded books and then put it all back together.

“It was very chaotic the first week,” said Smith. “But in the second week everything started coming together. We’re very pleased that it went so well.”

Workers swapped the former children’s area and the adult nonfiction and reference section. They also moved the computer section and remodeled the meeting room.

Employees, who did all of the work, dealt with some sore muscles from moving shelving and thousands of books. However, Smith said the result was worth the effort.

“The rearrangement gave us more room,” said Smith. “It freshened things up. I think everybody needs a change every once in a while.”

Using the space in a more efficient way was largely the point of the renovation. Smith and city officials are working toward a library expansion, but it is still in the planning stages as they search for funding.

The library is ready for two programs set for this month.

September is library card sign-up month and is also the month for the Food for Fines program.

Smith encourages all Jefferson County residents who do not have library cards to get one for free at Gardendale or any other Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC) site. The public libraries in Fultondale and Warrior are both JCLC members.

In order to pay off library fines and help others, JCLC libraries are hosting Food for Fines throughout September.

In that program, library members can donate one item of food per dollar owed to the library, up to $10. The food must be canned or nonperishable.

All food donated to the Gardendale library goes to a local food bank.

To learn more, call the library at 631-6639.