Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Library dedication set

It began as a dream with $1 million obtained from the state by Sen. Mike Ross in 1999.

At the time, Ross was in his final year as a state senator, seeking the congressional seat held by former Congressman Jay Dickey, who Ross beat.

Now, four years later, the new library for Prescott and Nevada County is about to open. In fact, opening ceremonies will be held Sunday, Oct. 26, from 2-5 p.m.

Ross will be the keynote speaker for the event, which will include a ribbon cutting, refreshments and a tour of the new facilities. Other speakers are expected to be Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor, Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown, and a representative from Friends of the Library.

However, before the library opens, a human chain will be formed from the old library with books being passed from person to person to the new structure. This will be done Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. until noon.

The idea is to get people involved in the new library so they can see it's for everyone, not just a select few.

At the opening, the trio of Paula Cossey, Carroll Purtle and Donna Smith will sing a medley of Americana music, as the year-long theme is "An American Celebration".

"We want to make the library a buzz during the year," said Candace Carrie` with the Nevada County Extension Service. "There will be a different theme each month."

The new facilities genealogy department will have state-of-the equipment, more computers for the public to use and a children's area. Additionally, Shay Farris is painting a mural inside the library.

Librarian Joyce Gibson said the Prescott High School band, cheerleaders and other school organization will be on hand for the human chain on Oct. 18. Librarians from the three school districts in Nevada County, she added, will be inside to man the library for the chain as well, as well as to help monitor the crowd.

According to Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, Gibson will be the mistress of ceremonies on Oct. 26. Brown is scheduled to talk about the old library board as well as the construction board. Janet McAdams will represent the Friends of the Library, discussing its contributions to the new library.

When the speeches are done, Gibson and Ross will cut the ribbon, officially opening the library. Different librarians will be inside at various stations to help with the tour.

Refreshments are scheduled to be served under the covered drive up on the back side fo the structure.

In the event of rain, Gibson said, all ceremonies on Oct. 26, will take place inside.

Should it rain on Oct. 18, she said, the human chain will be rescheduled to a later date.

The new library will officially be open to the public as of Tuesday, Nov. 4.