THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 14, 1995 TAG: 9512140358
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
The newly revamped Park Place library opened Wednesday night with festivities featuring Mayor Paul D. Fraim reading a children's story and City Manager James B. Oliver showing an unusual talent for African dancing.
The festivities, which featured singers from Monroe Elementary School and an African-American story-teller, were to celebrate not only the sprucing up of the small library but a new effort to refocus some of the city's many branch libraries.
The renovations at Park Place, which cost $5,000, was paid entirely by Norfolk Friends of the Library, included a children's reading section with colorful bean bag chairs, new book shelves and a green neon sign saying ``Library'' and ``Books'' with a blue wave beckoning inward.
Norfolk has more branches - 12 - than any other city in Hampton Roads. These branches put residents close to books but are also expensive to maintain and keep stocked, especially in a library system whose budgets are low by both state and regional standards.
The Park Place revamping is part of an effort by new Library Director Sally Reed to have some of the branches specialize in services that appeal to a library's surrounding neighborhoods.
The Park Place branch will specialize in children's and teen books, African-American literature and adult education materials. This fits the surrounding working-class, predominantly black neighborhood.
The Barron F. Black branch on East Tanners Creek Road near North Military Highway, once scheduled to close, will soon be converted into a ``homework center'' that will specialize in providing materials for students.
The Black branch will be open afternoons and evenings, Sunday through Thursday.
The highlight of the Park Place opening was story-teller Griot Felix Simmons, a big man in African dress who eschewed an offered microphone to address the children unaided in a big booming voice. He was backed by partner Amir Moteem, who played Cuban and African-style drums.
Simmons held the children's close attention as he led them in call and responses, told them of the uses of African drums, and slipped in lessons about the importance of staying away from drugs and reading books.
``You young people are the future of this country,'' said Simmons pointing at various children. ``I look at that young woman right there I see a brain surgeon written all over her face,'' he said.
Toward the end of the party, Simmons managed to prod City Manager Oliver, normally a quiet, reserved man, to dance in the middle of a circle of children to the beat of the drums. Oliver spun in a circle, flung his arms wildly and wore a crazy grin.
Earlier, Mayor Fraim read a short story, ``The Snowy Day,'' to children huddled on a bright blue carpet in front of him.
``There are a lot of good books in there,'' said Fraim at story's end, pointing at the rows of books within the library. ``You ought to come by here all the time. We want you to feel comfortable here, and safe.''
The Park Place branch is basically one large room within the Park Place Multi-Service Center on 29th Street. Library staff say the more open layout of books and the new sign should lure more people inside. The small library was easy to miss before, they said.
``People who aren't used to libraries will feel much different coming in here,'' Reed said. ``They won't feel intimidated.''
The new director, who took the position four months ago, said small, underused library branches like Park Place can be expanded by finding what the community wants and giving it to them. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk City Manager James Oliver dances to the beat of African
drums along with children and other adults at the Park Place
Library.
by CNB