STEELE CREEK NEWS

Watch for the New Library Grand Opening This Summer

(May 28, 2004) In mid-July, the little storefront library in Steele Creek Commons Shopping Center will close its doors forever. The little library has served the community well for the last ten years, but Steele Creek is growing by leaps and bounds, and it's time for something bigger. That bigger something will have its grand opening about three weeks later.

The new Steele Creek Branch Library on Steele Creek Road just north of York Road is almost ready, and you won't want to miss its opening. It will be a fun day for the entire family. Celebration activities will include puppet shows, story telling, face painting, live music, and much more. There'll be balloons, a clown, a unicyclist, fire trucks and police cars, and refreshments. Watch for an announcement of the date and time, which likely will be on a Saturday morning in early August.

Best of all, it will be your opportunity to see YOUR new library!

Features of the new library include:

• The Children’s Library, which will have it’s own computers and programs for children’s use only. There will be a greatly expanded children’s book section along with DVDs, videos, and other items for use by children.
  
• A separate area for youth where they'll have their own computers with programs to assist with homework and an enlarged collection of reference and other books.
  
• Many computers! Instead of the two computers that the current library has, there will be at least 30 computers available for public use.
  
• A “Quiet” Room available for study.
  
• A small conference room for meetings of up to 10 people.
  
• A community meeting room that will accommodate 50 people.
  
• An arbor with clematis and jasmine along the west (parking lot) side of the building and gardens on either end.

Plan to come and help celebrate the opening of this wonderful addition to the community.

As great as the new library is going to be, the Steele Creek Library Association wants it to be better. The Association continues to raise money to supplement the library's collections and facilities. It is near its goal of $100,000 with donations so far of approximately $92,000 in cash and gifts in kind, such as computers and signage.

The Sanctuary at Lake Wylie is donating landscaping to the Children's Garden on the south end of the library. This won't be completed until after the fall planting season. Crescent Resources, the developers of The Sanctuary, have been talking with Southwest Middle School staff about having the school's science club participate in the planning and development of the garden.

Crescent Resources is working with Audubon International to preserve wildlife habitat and water quality in The Sanctuary and the adjacent Lake Wylie. Audubon staff also will help with the library garden plan and the school science club activities. This will be an excellent opportunity for the students to learn about protecting the environment and landscaping with native plants.

The new library staff is still sorting out what equipment and materials the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County system will be providing. The Library Association plans to supplement this with additional books, videos, DVDs, computer software, electronic media equipment, and other materials.

Additionally, the Association hopes to maintain an endowment that it can use to help keep the library's collections and equipment up-to-date over the years.

If you have children at Lake Wylie or Steele Creek Elementary Schools, they should have received bookmarks from the Library Association this week.

As the bookmark states, the community's support is needed "to improve the quality of life in our community by having the best library possible for all of our citizens, young and old. We are asking each household in Steele Creek to make a small contribution to our effort, since it benefits everyone. All contributions are important, regardless of size."

The fund drive has received large donations from Crosland and Provident Development, as well as The Sanctuary. But it has also received donations from many Steele Creek families, and many library patrons have dropped money into the contribution box at the library. All of this will help the community reach its goal of having the best library possible.

The Library Association also is planning a book sale in December. So start setting aside books to donate now, and plan to bring them to the library in November. Look for more details soon.

Meanwhile, you may donate to the library fund at the Bi-Lo at the intersection of York Road and Steele Creek Road through June 9, or send your tax deductible donation to the following address:

STEELE CREEK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
PO BOX 38218
CHARLOTTE, NC 28278-82I8

Also visit the Steele Creek Library Association web site or read about the layout inside the library click on this link: New Library Taking Shape.