FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2005


New Branch Library to Open in York


York, SC - The long-awaited York Public Library will open in its new location at 21 East Liberty Street on Sunday, October 23 with a dedication and open house from 2-4 p.m. The public is invited to join in the celebration, which includes music, art shows, refreshments, door prizes, and tours of the new library. Students in grades K-7 can enter the Bookmark Design contest for a chance to win prizes.


The Library will open for business on Monday, October 24 with expanded hours of service: Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. The telephone number is 684-3751.


The 4,000 square foot location on North Congress Street closed on October 10 to prepare for the move to the former York post office building. The new 11,800 square foot building allows for many new features that the old building could not accommodate, including:


Meeting space – The Hazel Mitchell meeting room, named for a long-time York librarian, will be available for use by community groups and has a multi-media projection system No meeting room space was available at the old library. Additional meeting spaces include a small conference room that accommodates up to 10 people and a quiet study room with space for 6. Meeting rooms are available for non-profit and community groups to use on a first-come, first-served basis. Call the library at 684-3751 to reserve these rooms.


Teen space - A Teen area with deep purple walls and the old vault door from the post office add a special touch to this space.


Children’s area - Bright yellow walls define this cheerful space, just for kids, which includes four computers with internet access and children’s games. The children’s book collection features a selection of Spanish language books for children.


More computers - The number of computers with Internet access for public use will increase from four to sixteen.


More DVDs - The collection of DVDs available for check-out has been greatly increased.


Books for sale - The Friends of the Library will have an on-going book sale near the circulation desk with gently used, donated books at bargain prices for adults and children.


Morning coffee bar - Coffee will be available for purchase in the mornings for patrons, while they read their favorite newspapers and magazines.


More staff - Three new staff members have been added to better serve the public and accommodate the expanded hours of service.


The following local businesses and individuals have donated goods and services for the York Public Library opening: Ann’s Heart Catering, Bank of York, Bojangles of York, Carpenter’s Tile Works, Cotton Gin Tavern, Creative Cuts, Dickerson Ford, Domino’s Pizza of York, Dunlap-Johnson Chevrolet, Exhale Exercise Studio, First Citizens Bank, Flowers Etc. of York, Garden Cafe, Grace Ebersold Ulbricht, Hiott Forestry Consultants, Hummingbird Forest, Jasmine Cafe & Gifts, Memories & More, Old Master Putter Company, Paradise Cafe, Penee Facial Services, Pork-n-More Restaurant, Serenity Theraupeutic Massage, Solutions, Sub Station II of York, Sweet’s & Eats, The Coal Yard Restaurant, The Men’s Shop, The Rotary Club of York, Wal-mart of York, Wendy’s of York, Whitesides Dry Cleaners, Woody’s Music of York, and Y-Town Pets.


Special events continue at York Public Library during October and November. All events are free and open to the public.


The Friends of the Library will hold a Paperback Bonanza on Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Hazel Mitchell meeting room. Stop by and stock up on bargain paperbacks for your winter reading. The Library will also have a booth on Congress Street from 1-4 p.m. during the Fall in Downtown York Festival.


Storyteller Ramon Moore BigEagle will bring Native American legends and lore to the Library for ages 7 and up on Wednesday, November 2 at 4 p.m.


Want to get started researching your ancestors? Let Heather South of the Historical Center in York show you how with “Beginning to Climb Your Family Tree” on Monday, November 7 at 7 p.m.


Teens in grades 6-12 can participate in Poetry Slam! on Saturday, November 5 from 1-3 p.m. Playwright Laura Pfizenmayer will lead teens in the competitive art of performance poetry. Coffee and other refreshments will be provided.


On Saturday, November 12 from 12 noon - 1 p.m. bring the whole family, a bag lunch, and a blanket to sit on and enjoy blue grass music provided by York’s own Hudson Family. The 10-member musical family ranges in age from 4-year-old Katie, who is learning to play the fiddle, up to Grandma Hudson, who plays the autoharp.


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