Sarah Gretch, age 9, took a close look at which books she wanted on Webber Library’s opening day. Photo by Randy Klauk.
The Grand Reopening of the Webber Park Library was held on January 12. Everything came together perfectly; the sun was shining, the temperatures were mild, the air was still and a light dusting of snow made everything fresh and white. Sam Sharp, Steve Campagnola and Starla Krause spent the week before readying the outside of the library. Evergreen trees were placed in the planters outside of the building, ice candles were frozen and wood was gathered for a bonfire by the pond. Early that morning the trio was at the little library in the park, putting the finishing touches on a celebration they had been waiting for, for over a year.
Inside, under the direction of head librarian Ellen Buskirk and north area supervisor Jerry Blue, the new staff readied for a busy day. Megan Peterson, Manager of Communication and Marketing, had worked with staff and community members to plan festive events for the reopening of Webber Park Library, Southeast Library and Roosevelt Library. As the day started, a car full of enthusiastic hockey players headed down to the pond, and Jeffrey Wilkomm entertained the throngs of people who were coming and going inside, with his guitar and song. The flow was smooth and constant all day long, from the library to the bonfire, and from the skating pond back into the library for refreshments, conversation and entertainment. Jerry Blue kept the children happy with his storytelling magic. A fun and challenging treasure hunt had children running through the park in search of hidden hockey pucks that could be redeemed for valuable booty, the Bur Bur Characters courted the crowd, and people gathered to listen to the comments of County Commissioners, former Library Trustee Anita Duckor and City Council Member Barb Johnson.
Sometimes irony has a positive twist. One year ago, $100,000 could not be found in the City of Minneapolis budget to keep Webber Park Library open for the year 2007. In December, the County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the consolidation of the Minneapolis and Hennepin County Libraries. At the same meeting they approved a $15 million capital budget to rebuild the Webber Park Library; a budget that includes Minneapolis referendum funds. Commissioners Mike Opat and Mark Stenglein unveiled the preliminary plans for the new library at the reopening event. Commissioner Stenglein quipped that his son had asked “where is the rest of the library?” after entering the building. Stenglein went on to say that the plans for the new library would include “the rest of the library” complete with teen space with student study areas, innovative technology, expanded collections, a reading lounge for adults and more. According to the information presented at the reopening, early discussions and planning are underway, including site review at possible nearby neighborhood locations. When considering the mother lode the commissioners approved for Webber Park Library, I am reminded of a quote on Mike Opat’s website, “The people of north Minneapolis don’t ask for much and they don’t get it either.” In a previous Camden News article I remarked, “Wouldn’t it be nice if it were different this time?” It is.
The conversations, skating and bonfire continued into the evening. A group of neighborhood children left the library for a hockey game, returned again to raid the treats in the library and played even more hockey on the pond. The rink attendant said close to 200 hundred people had put on skates and ventured onto the pond Saturday; an added benefit to the day’s celebrations. The finale of the program was Celtic Harpist, Angelina Probasco. She provided a beautiful and relaxing end to a wonderful day. As the clean-up began, neighborhood resident Mary Martinson, shared the pleasures of getting on skates for the first time in years and she started planning for the next community event in the park. She did this naturally, because she knows that this is how communities are created, by coming together in the common places of our neighborhoods. Places like Webber Park Library.
Special thanks go to Papa’s Pizza, Rix’s Restaurant, Jackie Ann’s, The Warren Artist Habitat, the North Lyndale Dairy Queen, Kid’s Cook, Steamworks, Camden Music, Hackenmuellers Meats, and Minneapolis Parks and Recreation for providing prizes for the treasure hunt. Enthusiastic thanks to librarians Jerry Blue, Ellen Buskirk, Dianne Carlson, Elizabeth Grant and Sophia Kiheri, for a great reopening day and in anticipation of the wonderful library services to come, including: Homework Help on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Storytelling on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.; Homebound Library Services and library hours services on Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thanks again, to StarTribune columnist Nick Coleman for helping illustrate the importance of libraries in communities. Thanks always, to the remarkable people of our neighborhood; people who fought for the library and in general, make this a wonderful place to live.
