Lawrence County Library has reopened

By Alyssa Woods

BSN Contributing Writer

LOUISA – Big change has come to Lawrence County in the form of a brand-new addition to the Lawrence County Public Library, which had its grand reopening on Thursday .To commemorate the event, the library’s board of directors brought in the circus to entertain adults and children alike. To follow COVID regulations, citizens had the choice of viewing the circus from their cars, or walking around with masks, and maintaining a safe distance. The new addition is a step into the future according to the director of Lawrence County Public Library, Carlie Pelfrey. Citizens can see the most change in the new children’s area. The walls are painted with friendly animals and there are plenty of seats for children to curl up with a book. Something parents will rejoice in is the new AR section. These books are organized based on their AR level, and are easy to find so that kids do not need to worry about checking if the book is on their level. In addition to the children’s area getting a complete makeover, the library board has also made it more accessible to children of all walks of life. The computer desks are now able to be raised and lowered to fit each child’s needs. There are also places to sit and lay that are built inside the walls, which are padded with sensory engaging material. Compared to the old children’s area, which, according to Pelfrey, was “dark and uninviting to children,” this new area is something that kids will enjoy for years to come. The new additions are not just for children; there are new and improved viewing areas for adults as well. History lovers will enjoy a new room that holds two large glass cases dedicated to “Honoring Louisa History.” The items in the case are library owned or loaned by Dina Chaffin, and Don and Teresa Hillman. Inside the cases, citizens can find a game of “Lawrenceopoly” and a collection of gorgeous plates from previous Louisa and Lawrence County High School art teacher Frances Cain. At the opening, Pelfrey said that through many obstacles, including the 2020 Pandemic, the library has pushed through to build this new addition, “that aligns our county with twenty first century demands.” Pelfrey has shown her passion for the library by overseeing this four-year long project. Among the many people and organizations that Pelfrey extended thanks to were the citizens of Lawrence County. Throughout the event, Pelfrey could be heard saying, “This is your library” as she encouraged the crowd to take tours and truly experience the new addition. Finally, as Pelfrey said, this new library is the gift of “A facility that you can enjoy today and that will foster life-long learning and cultural experiences for future generations.”