MORAN The Energizer Bunny has nothing on a team of volunteers who spent several hours Saturday moving the Moran Public Library.
A crew of Library Board members, Marmaton Valley High School students and other community members worked upward of eight hours moving every book, shelf and other essentials from the old library next to City Hall to its new quarters, at the intersection of Randolph and Spruce streets.
The move completes a monthslong effort to relocate to the old Moran Baptist Church, made possible when a new church was built on the edge of town.
I still cant believe how amazing this all is, gushed Cindy Chalker, librarian. For it to look this good this quickly is simply incredible. I cant thank these kids enough for all of the work they did.
The helpers worked in groups, meticulously arranging and labeling the boxes of books so they could be placed properly at the new site. Others disassembled shelves as they were emptied, then hurriedly moved the shelves to the new library site so the books could be restocked.
Others pored through reams of old materials roughly 50 years worth so they could be placed properly.
The work proceeded so well the library can reopen for its normal hours at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Chalker said.
The public access computer was being hooked up today, and phones will be turned on Tuesday.
All that remains are tables being stored temporarily at Emprise Bank and the reassembly of a circulation desk donated from Kansas City, Kan., Community College. The desk was so large, Marmaton Valley construction students, under the guidance of instructor Samuel Jackson, had to take it apart and reassemble it at the new location.
The hours for the library will remain unchanged: 2 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 4:30-8 p.m. Thursday and 2-5:30 p.m. Friday.
With its more spacious quarters, Chalker is hopeful the librarys usage will continue to grow.
She estimates usage has nearly tripled since she took over about two years ago.
For more information about what the library has to offer, call (620) 237-4334.
