City resident Ada, age 2, greets Elephant, along with Piggie and Pete the Cat, Wednesday, Jan. 24, with the help of her mother, Jamie Woolf, during the Knowlton Library’s grand reopening celebration. Other festivities during the event included music by Raphael Guenther and the Mad River Valley Dulcimer Society, refreshments in the Judith Goodrich Community Room, a drawing for a gift basket from Marie’s Candies and crafts for families. (EXAMINER PHOTO | Mandy Loehr)
Logan County Libraries Executive Director Bev Arlequeeuw, left, expresses her appreciation Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the Knowlton Library’s grand reopening celebration to supportive board of trustees members, from the left, Sharon Halter, Judy Goodrich, Bob Barnwell, Steven Fansler, John Tucci, newly installed member Lauren Ater, and Stephen Henry. The library at 220 N. Main St. facility officially reopened Dec. 13 following nearly a year’s long restoration required following catastrophic, building-wide flooding after a pipe burst in the fire suppression system Dec. 25, 2022. “It was so much that we had to rebuild with 4 inches of water in the building; we lost everything. The only thing that survived were the books,” Arlequeeuw said. “I’m so thankful to the many people who touched this building in the last year. It was a test of endurance and creativity.” (EXAMINER PHOTO | Mandy Loehr)
Logan County Libraries staff, board of trustees members, contractors who assisted with the major restoration project and community members celebrate a ribbon cutting at the Knowlton Library, 220 N. Main St., Wednesday, Jan. 24, with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce. “It feels really good to be back here,” said Ben Vollrath, chamber CEO/president. “Libraries matter; books matter; community gathering places matter. Our library staff did a wonderful job during the closing to connect us with resources. My family enjoyed checking out the branch libraries and using the library pick up lockers here, and now we are thrilled to be back again.” (EXAMINER PHOTO | Mandy Loehr)