Van Buren Public Library opening date remains unknown

story and photos by Marla Cantrell
[email protected]

Go ahead. Take a look — you know you want to.

It might be your only chance to see the inside of the still unfinished Van Buren library at Main and 15th Street anytime soon.

It’s been an ordeal getting the library even this close to completion. First, taxpayers had to commit money to the build the $3.4 million library. They did that in 2005 when a one-half percent sales tax was approved. Voters returned in 2006 to extend the tax for 16 months.

Then the design had to be approved, a general contractor hired and a vacant grocery store razed. All that had been done when a fire, sparked by spontaneous combustion, broke out in the meeting room where interior doors were being varnished. That was on Sept. 20, 2008. The building was 85% complete.

A tangle of trouble followed the fire. There were disagreements over who was responsible for repairs. The city and the insurance company for the general contractor, Bossler Construction of Siloam Springs, continued to negotiate. Then Bossler went out of business, leaving some sub-contractors unpaid.

In July, the city thought its trouble had ended. Zurich Insurance, the agent for Bossler, gave the go ahead to repair the fire damage. Crawford Construction Co., one of the original bidders for the job, began work. Those involved with the project believe the 19,000-square-foot library could open in as little as four months.

That did not happen.

Crawford has finished the repairs; the other 15% of work has not been started, even after 15 months of negotiations.

Freeman said he and the city are still working with Traveler’s Insurance, the bonding company on the project. There is a lot to figure out, such as what to do about warranties that have already expired on the heat and air unit and other important equipment.

Representatives from Traveler’s are planning a trip from Maryland to look at the building. Freeman hopes this will be one of the last hurdles to cross before the issue is resolved. But he can’t be sure.

“Because of the legal issues involved, it doesn’t matter what I do.” Freeman said. “I can’t push it faster than what we’re trying to do and it’s frustrating.”

Freeman, who calls the ordeal an albatross around his neck, is frustrated. Crawford County Library Director Eva White and her staff are asked repeatedly when the new library will open. There is no good answer.

“We’ve had a lot of false starts,” White said.

White talked about the series of events from her office at the crowded current library on 12th Street. It was built in 1970. Boxes are stacked near the circulation desk, the break room has been taken over by two staff members. White shares her office with the associate director, a postage machine and shelves holding antique books, copier paper and assorted library supplies.

The delay hasn’t stopped traffic from growing at the library. Danalene Porter, director of the Van Buren branch, said when she started eight years ago they were lucky to see 150 people a day. Now, it’s not uncommon for 450 people to crowd into the 6,200-square-foot space.

Last year, 86,157 books were checked out in Van Buren. Another 20,494 used the eight computers designated for public use. When the new library opens there will be an entire room with 25 computers for residents to use. In fact, Freeman said those computers have been sitting in a storage building for months.

Teens will have their own area, and children will meet in another room which has an adjoining outdoor space. Right now everyone shares a common space, something that makes activities like story time and teen bingo distracting events for some adult visitors.

White said another advantage is the meeting room which will seat up to 100 people.  Non-profits will be able to use the space for free. The staff will also get new offices — White will no longer share a space — and there will be a new board room.

The move to the new facility will test White’s organizational prowess. She doesn’t yet know if there will be money to hire movers or if she will have to depend on staff and volunteers. The trick, she said, is to have trucks lined up and ready to go with each section’s books leaving in a regimented order. The transition from the old building to the new should leave residents without a library for about a month. During that time patrons will have to use the county’s other four libraries in Alma, Cedarville, Mountainburg and Mulberry.

Those traveling to Cedarville for the latest best-sellers are likely to be surprised by the facility. The town is getting a new 3,000-square-foot library that’s nearing completion. The present library is in one room in the Old Rock School. The new facility is on the same campus, and can be seen from the current location.

When complete, the $294,965 building will have room to grow. There is also a coffee shop, staffed by volunteers, planned for the future. Another part-time worker will be hired to help Cedarville’s director, Michele Mullen.

Van Buren already has staff in place for the expected growth. They hired additional workers at the beginning of this year, believing the new library would open soon.
That did not happen. White wonders if her patience was supposed to be tested. Freeman said his certainly has been. The two speak often and keep hoping for the best.

“I thought I knew what patience was,” White said. “But I didn’t know anything until I went through this.”

When it finally opens, White intends to celebrate.

“We’re going to have wang-bang grand opening when it finally happens,” White said. “And we’re going to invite everybody from this town and the county.”

Freeman expects a few tears, some of them his own.

“When we finally do the ribbon cutting, it will be not only a joyous moment, but it will be a tear-filled personal moment,” Freeman said.