The Allen County (Indiana) Public Library closed some months ago and was moved to temporary quarters. The plan was to build a new $64 million county library with a huge section of the new facility devoted to genealogy books, microfilms, CD-ROM disks, online access, and more. The plan apparently worked. The new facility has opened on the planned date, and first reports indicate that it is gorgeous.
Thousands of people dropped in to see the new facility. In fact, hundreds waited outside the entrances when the doors opened at noon. By the time the speeches were over and the departments were opened to the public, the Great Hall on the first floor and the open halls on the second floor were almost standing-room-only, as crowded as any parade route.
The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel has an article describing the opening at http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/16572212.htm.
Before the day is over today (give me at least until noon), I will have my videos of the opening uploaded at http://krumbar.neptune.com (Click on ACPL). I've divided the files so that you can see only what you wish to see. My walk through the genealogy department is a bit lengthy, perhaps, but wait until you see the new Microtext room and the rows and rows of microfilm cabinets! And all those books you used to have to ask for are now on open stacks. I also show using the system to find a book I know is there -- mine. Then I take a walk to the Brickhouse Cafe on the ground floor. I'm glad to see it's actually outside the circulating library area, but does include Twice Sold Tales, the used book store, which until now was off-site. So you can sip your coffee, eat a sandwich or lovely pastry and read a second-hand book you've just bought. For pure entertainment, give a listen to our Memorial Park Middle School Jazz Band. Memorial Park is a magnet fine arts school. Those kids can really scat! Give City Councilman Tom Didier a listen in Post the Colors, as he sings our National Anthem. He also opens all Komets Hockey games at Memorial Coliseum. Enjoy!
Posted by: Loretta Krumwiede Barlow | January 30, 2007 at 07:38 AM
Some pictures of the opening and the Genealogy Center are posted at
http://kinexxions.blogspot.com/2007/01/allen-county-public-library-grand.html
more info in a 2nd post at
http://kinexxions.blogspot.com/2007/01/more-on-allen-county-public-library.html
Posted by: Becky Wiseman | January 30, 2007 at 08:41 AM
Interestingly enough, Neptune.com will only support Internet Explorer. Since my work uses Firefox and we are not permitted to use IE, then I guess that will shut out anyone who uses another browser.
Posted by: Lorenzo | January 30, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Would someone post info regarding the location of the new library? I remember hearing it would be on the same site as the old library but Google won't give me a location for the Liberty Plaza address and takes me to Liberty Street in Ft. Wayne. We used the former library for many years and are anxious to visit the new one.
Nancy in Michigan
Posted by: Nancy Rudolph | January 30, 2007 at 01:00 PM
The location of the library is "officially" 900 Library Plaza. However, that's exactly the same location as 900 Webster Street. It's just that Webster Street has been sliced in two and where the street once ran in front of the library, there is now a very large plaza with picnic tables for people to sit outside.
Lorenzo is correct that Neptune supports only IE. Sorry about that.
Posted by: Loretta Krumwiede Barlow | January 30, 2007 at 02:06 PM
How, and where do I donate a free copy of my 900 page history book on the descendants of the HUNTOON family to your library?
Can you suggest any other Genealogy Library and address that I can also donate a free copy of it to?
Thanks, - James E. Kunkle - email: k19161913b@att.net
Posted by: James E. Kunkle | December 10, 2008 at 10:01 PM