After years of planning, organizing, and construction, the new library opened this week. The big day was this past Tuesday. I got to go there for a meeting for the first time with it being open on Wednesday evening, and it is everything that we hoped it would be. I couldn't ask for it to be more beautiful.

The movers said that they were impressed with how much had been jammed into the previous structure, which was just about 6000 sq ft. The new building is about four times that size.

It is amazing to think that I have been involved in this process for almost a decade, and it is finally done.

They are experiencing a little bit of growing pains. It is pretty common after a new library is build. Many more people come in and use the facilities so it can be tough because the staff is dealing with the changes of layout and stuff while trying to meet the new demand. I am sure that it will work out as they adjust.

The biggest challenge is that they are struggling with the HUGE influx of teens in the library in the afternoon. I think a big part of it is that the new library has an awesome space dedicated to them. I am jealous, and I would love to have a similar space in my own library!

The director is not taking the best approach to the situation thought. She is already calling the police, and sees their presence as a problem rather than an opportunity to serve a whole knew population! It is a little annoying to have her complaining to me about it. I am not sure why she thinks I would have compassion for her complaints. It would be different if she were asking me how to improve the situation, but I am getting the feeling that she just wants the kids gone.

For now, I will sit back and enjoy the new building and hope they find a way to meet the interest of the teens without driving them off.

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