Open for business again

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Hunter Wilson/Daily NewsNevaeh Wilson, 7, of Bowling Green looks through DVD's at the Graham Drive Community Library on Tuesday.

The Graham Drive Community Library probably could have 10 more computer stations and still not have enough for its patrons.

Most days, even after opening Monday after a remodeling, there is a waiting list for the use of the computers, according to library assistant Tishiba Roberson. Reservations for hourly sessions can be made a day in advance.

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Tuesday was no different as 12-year-old Esterine Habonimana played games and 18-year-old Cinnamon Knight looked for a job for a school internship program in the fall.

Roberson said many adults use the computer for job searching or keeping in touch with family members through e-mail.

Jerry Schuster said he comes there most days to do family genealogy research on Ancestor.com.

“I’ve been able to debunk a few family myths,” Schuster said.

For Esterine, the library is a place she can come most days to use a computer that she doesn’t have at home. On Tuesday, she also was getting to try her hand at making a yarn dream weaver, something Roberson plans to teach kids later in the week.

The art room is one of the new features at the library.

“It’s great,” Knight said. “Before, there were so many kids who would come to the programs who would either have to stand up or sit in the floor.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to use that room,” she said. “It’s going to be fun.”

Knight has a computer at home but comes to the library for the interaction with other patrons.

“People ask her for recommendations on books,” Roberson quipped.

Roberson greeted everyone by their first name as they walked in the front door of the newly remodeled space.

Thirteen-year-old Zach Boards was playing games on the computer Tuesday but he said he also comes to check out new books.

“It looks like we are going to have a lot more space,” Zach said.

Library Director Lisa Rice said the space is much more accommodating now.

“We were able to move the children’s computers and picture books into the former program room to create a space just for younger children,” Rice said. “The new program room is a great space. It is going to allow us to offer more programs and accommodate more participants in each program. It also creates an atmosphere more conducive to learning by eliminating distractions and space for instructors to move about during classed.”

The library just received some stimulus money to purchase new computers, some of those new computers will replace existing ones at the Graham branch and allow the addition of two more, Rice said.

Now there are four children’s computer stations and six adult stations.

The library shut down in November for its $56,000 renovation that was paid for in part by a grant from the now-shuttered Enterprise Community program.

“The kids are just really excited,” Roberson said. “During the renovation they would come and peek in the windows.”

— The Graham Drive branch is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.