Colfax library marks grand re-opening in grand style

A 100-strong crowd poured into the newly remodeled Whitman County library last Wednesday, Aug. 11 for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

A handful of citizens lined up for the ceremony to cut the ribbon for the renovated library, now open after nine-months of remodeling.

Alex McGregor, president of the McGregor Company, Matt and Jill Klaveano of Steptoe, 9th District State Representative Joe Schmick, and a handful of other citizens and local dignitaries helped cut the new ribbon.

Faces light up with smiles after the ribbon is cut for the newly remodeled Colfax library.

“It’s a wonderful upgrade to our town,” said Mayor Norma Becker. “They really did a great job.”

Along with a new elevator and improved handicap access, the interior of the library now features a sprawling rainforest tree for the children’s corner. The tree is in memory of the late Hayden Klaveano, Matt and Jill’s son who passed away in 2008. Many attending the ceremony came to support the Klaveano family.

“The loss is still with us. We were all for it,” said Buzz McCoid, Hayden’s grandfather said of the area around the tree, named Hayden’s Corner.

Jeanne Tribett said she came out “just to support the Klaveano’s for everything they have been through.”

Architect Carry Kom of Castlellaw Kom Architecture was in attendance and noted it was wonderful to see his designs fully finished.

“It’s really fun to see it finally here after months of construction dust,” Kom said.

Children race along with their free balloons at the library dedication.

The library staff too have a newly remodeled office space on the second floor, with new carpeting and new paint.

Library staff and a portion of library materials were relocated to the U.S. Bank last December, 2009. Staff has been working out of that office since then. When construction wrapped up in June, library staff began cleaning and moving shelves. For most of the summer, they have been moving back into the building and cleaning up the construction zone.

Of the $1 million spent on the library, $650,000 came from a loan from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act via the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Another $115,000 came from a Washington state grant. The rest was from private donations and corporate grants.