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Renovated Library Open House
Constitution-Tribune, Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Mark Twain (actor Jim Waddell from Hannibal, Missouri), Jody Case, general contractor for the renovations, Robin Westphal, Library director, and Marion Harter, library board president, cut the ribbon together in celebration of the Livingston County Library's grand reopening held Sunday.

C-T Photos/Amanda McKay

Approximately 130 people attended the celebration on the library steps and enjoyed an ice cream social in celebration of recently completed renovations.

Renovated Library on Display
Constitution-Tribune, Friday, April 9, 2010

Guests view the spacious courtroom on the second floor. Here, new windows and new wall tapestry were installed. The appearance of a balcony was created when a room was added for storage of tables, chairs and book sale books. Once built as federal courtroom, this room will be used for library programs, book sales and will be available for use by community groups. While maintaining the historic integrity of the room, modern conveniences, such as computer plug-ins to the floor, were added.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

Around 200 people toured the Livingston County Library Thursday evening to view the $3.4 million in renovations which were just completed to the 1915 building.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

Guests listen as Library Director Robin Westphal tells what renovations took place in the lobby. The lobby area now contains large-print books and DVDs. The library renovations were funded through a voter-supported bond issue which received 71% approval.

Historic Building Modernized
By Amanda McKay, Constitution-Tribune, Monday, April 5, 2010

Circulation clerk Marsha Batye (left) and Library Director Robin Westphal (right) man the desk at the newly-renovated Livingston County Library.

C-T Photo/Amanda McKay

After more than a year of construction, the newly-renovated Livingston County Library is starting a new era. The $3.4 million voter-supported project, which began in February 2009, brings energy efficiency and greater usability to the 1915 building. The facility will be showcased during a open house from 5:30 until 7 p.m. this Thursday, April 8.

Preserving the Past: The genealogy room on the 2nd floor houses a microfilm reader, computer and printer, as well as microfilm of the Constitution-Tribune newspapers and census information. The room also contains cemetery and funeral home records on CD.	Online: The library is now complete with a separate computer lab and is also a WiFi Hot Spot for patrons with laptops. The library will also be installing computers for the card catalog soon.
Stuff for Kids: Storytime for families is held at the Children's Library for children of all ages and their parents or other care-givers. Coming soon to the children's section will be computers with around 40 educational software programs for fun learning.	Earth Friendly: The new overhead lighting at the library on all four floors consists of energy-efficient fixtures and bulbs to conserve more energy. The library also has all new eco-friendly windows, motion sensor lights, and all the duct work has also been replaced.

Library Renovations Complete
By Laura Schuler, Constitution-Tribune, Wednesday, March 31, 2010

CAPTION: The finishing touches are being made to complete the $3.4 million renovation project at the Livingston County Library nearly 14 months after work started and almost two years since the bond issue paying for the project received voter approval. The library will be hosting two open houses to showcase the work on the historic building’s four floors to patrons.

C-T Photo/ Laura Schuler

After nearly 14 months of plumbing, electrical, HVAC and interior cosmetic work on four floors, the $3.4 million renovation project headed by Case Contracting, LLC at the Livingston County Library is now complete and library officials are anxious to showcase the building to the public.

For that purpose, the library will be hosting two open houses within the next few weeks. The first event will begin with a First Friday Coffee for the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 1. Following the coffee, library employees will be available to lead tours through all four floors of the building until 11 a.m. Then, on Thursday, April 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., another open house is scheduled.

“We are encouraging people to come out and see all the changes,” said library director Robin Westphal. She added that the two open houses will give patrons their first opportunity to get a “behind-the-scenes” tour on all four floors, including the staffing area. Westphal said the library opened up on Friday after a seven-day shutdown to move shelving and books back down to the main floor - the last staging area for construction work.

Main Floor Library Work
Laura Schuler, Constitution-Tribune, Monday, November 16, 2009

Heating and cooling materials are laid out on the main floor of the library, which is now the center of activity for the renovation, now entering its last phase.

The library opened up today at noon after a week’s closure. During that time, materials from the main floor were moved to either the basement or the second floor. Those interested in visiting the library must enter through the building’s north door, leading to the handicap ramp. Once inside, library patrons must take either the stairs or the elevator to the second floor or basement.

Tapestry of Renovation
Constitution-Tribune, Wednesday, October 07, 2009

C-T Photo/Laura Schuler

The $3.4 million renovation project at the Livingston County Library continues with the hanging of more than 200 yards of tapestry on the walls of the courtroom on the building’s second story this week. According to library director Robin Westphal, workers from Wood Wall Coverings, of Kansas City, Mo., started hanging the fabric Tuesday and should be finished by Thursday. The tapestry was ordered from a company in Oklahoma and its design reflects the age of the building. Once the renovation project is completed, all floors of the library will be able to be utilized. Westphal said the courtroom will be used as a meeting space and a kitchenette will be located immediately next to it.

Library Basement Nears Completion
Thursday, September 3, 2009, C-T

CAPTION: Renovation work in the basement of the Livingston County Library is nearing completion. The basement, which will once again house the Children’s Department, now has carpeting and paint on the walls. According to Robin Westphal, library director, touch-up painting needs to be done yet, along with some plumbing work before they will be finished.

C-T Photo/Laura Schuler

On the library’s second floor, electrical work is primarily being done in the genealogy room, located across from the old courtroom. Cement on the staircase leading down from the second floor was poured yesterday.

Library Renovation Continues
Thursday, August 6, 2009 by Laura Schuler, C-T

CAPTION: The $3.4 million renovation project ongoing at the Livingston County Library is now centering on the basement, which houses the children’s department, and the second floor, which holds the former courtroom (above). The courtroom’s wall tapestry has been removed and new tapestry — historically representative of the library’s age — has been ordered from Oklahoma.

C-T Photo/Laura Schuler

Chillicothe, Mo. - If you’re wanting to check out a book or use the computer at the Livingston County Library, be prepared for a little less elbow room when you arrive. “We’re very crowded on the first floor, but we’re managing,” says Robin Westphal, library director. The $3.4 million renovation project, which is now in its sixth month, has definitely impacted the day-to-day operations of the facility, but Westphal says the amount of items being checked out isn’t much different than it was last year at this time. “And, we’ve got more people using computers than last year at this time,” she said.

The majority of the library’s operations has been condensed to one floor since the renovation at the library is centering on the second floor and in the basement of the historic building. That means that the materials for the children’s department now shares shelf space with the adult materials. “So we’re very cramped and we’re very, very busy,” Westphal said.

On the second floor, possibly the most noticeable renovation is occurring in the courtroom, where the tapestry has been removed from the walls. The walls have been stripped down to the brick and studs and Westphal says that new padding will be put up. Then, new tapestry — historically representative of the library’s age —will go up. The tapestry, Westphal said, has been ordered from Oklahoma.

Third Floor Complete Tuesday, July 07, 2009, C-T By Catherine Stortz Ripley

CAPTION: After extensive remodeling, the third floor of the Livingston County Library is ready to be occupied. Here, Chris Holland, the library’s information technology/network administrator, starts making the transfer of computer equipment. This room is being relocated from the second floor. The majority of the transfer will take place Wednesday, and the library will be closed to the public that day.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

The Livingston County Library hit a milestone this week in its massive renovation project with the third floor of the 1916 structure having been completed. With the exception of the Somerville Room — which housed genealogy-related materials and other archived material — the third floor was mostly unused because there was no running water nor centralized cooling.

Library employees today (Tuesday) began moving into the third floor which now has areas for staff offices, an information technology room, a staff break room, a centralized cooling system, a bathroom, a custodian’s office and running water. The transfer of the information technology equipment will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) and the library will be closed to the public all day.

Material from the Somerville Room — a busy place especially during summer — is temporarily inaccessible and will eventually be relocated to the second floor. In addition to being centrally cooled and heated, the room’s humidity will also be regulated to lengthen the life of the rare materials housed there, according to Library Director Robin Westphal.

Moving into the third floor is the first of several milestones expected throughout the $3.4 million the project which is expected to be completed by spring 2010.

CAPTION: The marble wall on one side of the hallway and the terrazzo flooring - both historically important elements of the 1916 structure - were preserved on the library's third floor. Renovations have been completed on this floor and the contractor is now focusing efforts on the building's second floor. The third floor will house staff offices and the information technology room. Through the total renovation process, one hallway wall was removed and plumbing was added to the third floor.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

CAPTION: Exterior work on the library began Tuesday, a day when the temperature topped out at 70. Today’s temperature at mid-morning was 36 degrees.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

The renovation project at the Livingston County Library has begun. In April 2008, voters passed a $3.4 million bond issue to pay for improvements and renovate the library building. Since April, architects from Creal, Clark and Seifert out of St. Joseph have worked with Case Contracting to create plans for the project, which includes replacing the existing heating and cooling system, plumbing and updating the electrical system in the building.

Every floor will undergo a major facelift that maximizes the available space in the building, according to library director Robin Westphal. Because of lack of centralized cooling in the building and the absence of working plumbing on the second and third floors, much of those areas have not be utilized. The plans call for some of the staff offices to be housed on the third floor and for the Somerville Room, which housed the library’s extensive genealogy collection, to be moved to the second floor. The second floor will still have the courtroom which can be used for large meetings, book sales and programs. A new kitchenette will be added and can be used in conjunction with meetings held in the courtroom or in a small meeting room also on that floor. A new stairway will extend from the second floor to the basement. The first floor and lower level space will be updated and the floorplans reworked to maximize the space.

The project, which is expected to take between 15 and 18 months to complete, will include improvements to the outside of the building as well. New energy efficient windows will be installed and a new handicapped ramp will be installed. Visitors to the library can expect building progress to possibility affect how they utilize the library. A book drop will be relocated west of its current location on Clay Street and the library’s parking lots will be closed. Some street parking will remain and the public lot at the corner of Ann and Locust will remain open. An entrance to the building may be closed periodically and certain areas of the library may be inaccessible to the public.

“Our intent is to remain open as much as possible during this process, but we know that our staff and library users are going to have to modify their activity during this time,” Westphal said. “We certainly appreciate everyone’s patience during this time, and the staff will be as accommodating as possible.” She said that the public will be notified as much in advance as possible if the library has to close during the project.

An Alternate Route
Wednesday, April 1, 2009, C-T

CAPTION: A library patron uses the temporary handicap ramp this (Wednesday) morning which has been added to the east side of the building. The old handicapped ramp at the Livingston County Library has been removed as part of the library’s massive renovation project which was approved a year ago by the county’s voters. Library officials say preparations are under way to build a new ramp on the north side of the building which will make it easier for those in wheelchairs to get up the ramp and open the library’s doors.

C-T Photo / Laura Schuler

Power Shift
Wednesday, April 15, 2009, C-T

CAPTION: The alley behind Livingston County Library was the site of much activity today (Wednesday) as Chillicothe Municipal Utilities electric crews severed power in the block in order to remove a utility pole and place the power lines underground beneath the alley to the other side.

C-T Photo/Catherine Stortz Ripley

Children’s Library Moves to Main Floor
Tuesday, May 5, 2009, C-T

The Children’s Library has been moved to the main floor of Livingston County Library where it will remain until the Children’s Department on the lower level has been remodeled, Livingston County Library officials say.

According to children’s librarian Judith Shoot, all of the Easy books, Juvenile Fiction books, CD collection and Ellison Cutter equipment were moved to the main floor. “Only a portion of the Juvenile non-fiction collection is available due to lack of space, but children will find a selection of books on popular subjects such as animals, sports, biographies and crafts,” she said. Other subjects can be accessed on the internet or found in adult books.