Nine months of construction: Colfax library opens, public explores changes

Five minutes before opening, staff of the newly remodeled Whitman County Colfax library were wiping down windows, rigging up a sign with their new hours and putting the final touches on book shelves.

The 10 a.m. opening time hit, and two people entered. Ten minutes later, the place was flooded with parents, children and others exploring the “new” library.

The renovations added an elevator, a skylight, an expanded children’s corner, remodeled offices for the staff and handi-cap accessible entrances.

The town has been without their library building for the nine months of construction.

Youth services manager Sheri Miller helps adjust the headphones of tiny library patron Kendall Clinton, 5.

“I love it. I think it’s great,” said Colfax teacher Sue Doering as she looked around. “The roominess- I think they did a really good job with space.”

The library planned an official opening with ribbon cutting during the dedication ceremony Wednesday night and a variety of attractions that day.

Children Monday giggled in Hayden’s Corner, the children’s corner dedicated to the late Hayden Klaveano. His parents, Matt and Jill Klaveano of Steptoe, dedicated part of the memorial donations for their son to the new children’s corner.

Also making its debut Monday was the new elevator, one of the major additions to provide access to the handicapped. The library’s basement social and meeting room has lacked handicapped access because the building was built before the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Of the $1 million spent on the library, $550,000 came in the form of a 40-year community rural development loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA funds derived from stimulus funds in 2009. Another $115,000 came from a Washington state grant. The library also conducted a fund raising campaign to generate funds which were used to advance the grant process.

Blews Construction of Spokane was the general contractor on the project. Library staff worked out of the back of the U.S. Bank Building for the duration of the construction.

Construction wrapped up in the early summer and staff has spent most of the summer cleaning shelves and moving equipment to its proper location.