The Andrews Branch Library of the Georgetown County Library System celebrated its Grand Re-Opening Reception jubilantly on Wednesday, March 23, at 5:00PM with over 75 attendees enjoying an expanded and innovative civic complex along with an important surprise $64,750-funding-announcement from the United States Department of Agriculture. With construction completed, the newly-expanded public library has doubled in size to 10,000 square feet and is ready for business with some key new services. Two added wings of about 2,500 square feet each feature an expanded technology hub and also an adult learning center. In addition, a beautiful new open-air meeting structure behind the Andrews Branch Library completes this innovative complex which altogether will serve as a central community service crossroads in the very heart of the Town of Andrews, South Carolina.
The Library Technology Wing includes a new computer center and additional technology exploration spaces for young adults and children. The Adult Learning Center is made possible by a new public-library collaboration with the Georgetown County School District which will provide the necessary personnel for that space. This area has individual tutoring rooms, a large teaching area, and a separate computer location to enhance adult literacy abilities and test-taking skills. The creation of the new outdoor pavilion depended in part upon the generous contribution of $53,000 from the Andrews Rotary Club along with a $3,000 grant from Rotary International.
"We think that the community will be excited by this complex and will utilize the highly adaptive areas and equipment there fully," said Georgetown County Administrator Sel Hemingway. Hemingway added that "The library's furnishings, fixtures and equipment also received a much needed face-lift after over 20 years of intensive usage since being originally built in 1989." Georgetown County government also funded two new part-time positions in the expanded library. In addition, this summer, a dynamic new Andrews Branch Library Manager, Rose Lewis, was hired to replace the much-beloved long-time manager Dale Wade who retired last spring. "Rose's attention to detail certainly contributed a lot to the excellent appearance of the new library and to the smooth transition," said Library Director Dwight McInvaill. The building's renovation along with the new outdoor pavilion was designed by Architect Michael Walker of the Georgetown County firm Tych and Walker Architects, LLC. The General Contractor was Coastal Structures Corporation, also of Georgetown County.
In addition to the $53,000 Rotary gift and the $3,000 Rotary Grant, the approximately $1.5 million dollar complex and renovation was made possible by a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Department of Commerce, a $34,673 Community Facilities Grant for Rural Libraries from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and additional funding from the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation. The balance of funding came from the Georgetown County Capital Improvement Plan developed during years of planning involving citizen volunteers from throughout the district. The plan also led this year to the creation of a new Heritage Center at the Georgetown Library. In July 2012, it will lead to the building of a new Waccamaw Neck Branch Library, too.
The Grand Re-Opening Ribbon was cut by 16-year-old, long-time library user William Gaskins who also spoke at the event. Other speakers included State Librarian David Goble, Georgetown County Library Chairman Bill Gaskins, Former Library Board Chairman Virgil Grayson, South Carolina State Representative Carl Anderson, USDA State Director Vernita Dore, Georgetown County Administrator Sel Hemingway, Georgetown County Council Chairman Johnny Morant, Georgetown County Councilman Austin Beard, Georgetown County School Superintendent Randy Dozier, Andrews Town Mayor Rodney Giles, and Georgetown County Library Director Dwight McInvaill. The auditorium was packed with excited citizens.
In a surprise announcement, USDA State Director Vernita Dore proclaimed that the USDA was awarding an additional grant of $64,750 to the Georgetown County Library for a new bookmobile to serve the Sampit-Santee Community. This money would be in addition to the $34,673 that the Andrews Branch Library had just received for new computers. Director McInvaill said, "We are grateful for both of these substantial gifts from the USDA. This money will assuredly provide important services to benefit citizens in two of our county's most rural and impoverished areas. This funding certainly gladdens our heart!"
For more information, contact:
Dwight McInvaill, Director
Georgetown County Library, 405 Cleland Street, Georgetown, SC 29440
dmcinvaill@georgetowncountysc.org
843-545-3304
