Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 20, 1990 TAG: 9004200700
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
"Anytime you come by my house you'll find something in it that belongs to the library," said Kelly, who for the past few years has been checking out materials from Pulaski and Radford libraries about seven or eight miles from his home.
On Monday, though, a Dublin branch of the Pulaski County Library will be opened, and Kelly will be able to check out his books a little closer to home.
"This is really going to be a help for my wife and kids," Kelly said. "And I'll be able to run out and check something in a magazine, or look up resources for sermons or my writing."
Janie Hardwicke, 73, also is looking forward to seeing a new library open up.
"I visit the library as much as any place there is," Hardwicke said. "Books are wonderful."
The Dublin library, officially called The Charles and Ona B. Free Memorial Library, has a capacity of about 10,000 books, said Melinda Zalecki, president of the library system.
But they have to start smaller.
"I wish we could have it full at first, but we can't," Zalecki said. "I would guesstimate that we'll start with 2,000 or 3,000 books."
She said the library could be at capacity in about five years.
For the past 53 years, Pulaski County has had only one library - and it was in the county seat. People living in small towns across the county have relied on bookmobiles, or have gone to Pulaski, or used the library in Radford.
"Now they'll have a permanent facility and they won't have to travel as far," Zalecki said.
The bookmobile still will run through other sections of the county, to nursing homes and to the Senior Citizens Center, Zalecki said. "In an area where a large population has dropped out of high school and there are literacy problems, the more facilities you can make available, the better off you are," Zalecki said.
Talk about constructing the $195,000, red brick building began about three or four years ago, said Zalecki, who began working with the library system in 1978.
Officials had looked at renting office space, until they heard of a grant from Charles and Ona B. Free's trust fund. They applied and received $150,000.
"When we heard about that, we decided that rather than using a store front, we would try to build," Zalecki said.
The building, which has about 3,300 square feet of space, is at Giles and Maple streets in the heart of Dublin.
It originally was scheduled to be completed in October. Zalecki said construction was delayed during the winter months.
"The response for the project has been great," Zalecki said. "We're looking forward to it. It's going to be in a residential area and there are a lot of people around here who read. There are a lot of children."
The library will be open six days a week on a part-time basis. Cards from the Pulaski, Radford or Montgomery County library will be honored, Zalecki said.
For hours or more information, call the library at 674-2856.
by CNB