Starke County Public Library Expansion Nearing Completion

Henry F. Schricker Library
Henry F. Schricker Library
Completion of the expansion project for the Starke County Public Library is in sight. After being on hold throughout the winter season, construction efforts have stepped up and Library Director Sheila Urwiler told WKVI that the new wing should be open in late September or early October.

“We are still about a month and a half out. It looks like sometime late September we should be about ready to open the new addition. They’re, right now, working on the drywall inside and that will take about another week, maybe two, and then they’ll start working on painting and doing the flooring and start installing some of the fixtures,” said Urwiler.

The $1.785 million project adds 4000 square feet to the northwest part of the building which will feature a new children’s wing with more controlled access and better sound protection. The added space will also provide more room for computers and set aside a young adult section, currently situated in the loft area of the library.

Urwiler said the crews have been working tirelessly, making great strides in progress over the last month.

“They finished the rough in for the plumbing and the electric about two weeks ago and they’re working on the exterior brick work right now. That should be done pretty soon, probably within another week or so. They’ve got the windows in, they’ve got the plumbing rough in, so they’ve made quite a bit of progress within the last month,” Urwiler said.

The exterior of the new construction blends nicely with the existing building, making it hard to tell where the old building ends and the new wing begins. The new wing should be operational in early October.