Category: Expansion project

Lincoln Library purchased the Mason building, right next door to the north, in August of 2019. Our imagination took off as we discussed the many possibilities that could become reality with the addition of the building to our library. We talked and had meetings. We contacted an architect. Many hours were spent by committee members in fine-tuning the remodeling plans for the existing library and speculating on the most community friendly floor plans for the new acquisition.

I don’t have to tell you how decelerating and interrupting COVID-19 has been to everything and everybody. It definitely slowed down our plans. We continued to move forward, although at a much slower pace. As our plans were finalized, realism crept in, pulling a hefty price tag behind it. We decided to break down the project into several phases and concentrate on the first phase only.

We have thrown around a variety of funding ideas from the very beginning. As we watched our preliminary steps coming to fruition, we decided to apply for the Libraries Transform Grant through SCKLS (South Central Kansas Library System).

SCKLS serves public, school, academic, and special libraries in 12 counties since 1968, including Barber County. The organization not only provides expertise in a large variety of areas, they offer several different grants. The Libraries Transform Grant is a matching grant up to $25,000 to go towards a project and program of change for a community library.

Lincoln Library Board members moved forward with the application process and on Friday, December 4, 2020, we received notification and a $25,000.00 check through the mail.

We had smiling faces and grateful hearts as we spread the news of the grant. As much as those zeros make a difference to this project, even more so is the motivational affirmation that completing phase 1 is within reach.

SCKLS is where we turn when problems arise and advice is needed. We appreciate the staff members and their guidance in the areas we need direction. Receiving the Libraries Transform Grant is just one more reason to be thankful for the staff and for the organization.

Our next step will be advertising for bids. Everyone is welcome to stop by and check out the plans; we would love to show them to you!

Word of the Week: The word of the week is “perspicacious.” The word is an adjective and is pronounced pur·spuh·kei·shuhs (\ˌpərspəˈkāSHəs/) and means having acute mental vision or discernment. The perspicacious salesman earned a great living because he knew how to read his customers.

Yes, we are still moving forward with our expansion project. No, we are not running, jumping, and dancing along; our pace would probably be considered a meander, or a ramble, maybe even just a plod! The important thing is that we are still moving.

We have received our working plans and we would like to invite any community member who is interested in what will someday be a reality at Lincoln Library, to stop in and check them out. That invitation is also open to any contractors who might entertain the idea of bidding on the project. After we have checked the plans and rechecked the plans to make sure they are exactly what we want, we will be putting the job out for bids.

We may be moving slow, but we are still extremely excited. Come on in, we would love to share that excitement with you!

Word of the Week: The word of the week is “scrupulous.” It is an adjective and is pronounced /ˈskro͞opyələs/. The word means having moral integrity and acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper, and being extremely attentive to details. It is important to be scrupulous when dealing with a client’s finances.