At the end of last year we applied for a Library Improvement Grant through the Nebraska Library Commission. We received a grant to purchase patio furniture for our outdoor space on the Southeast corner of the library. We worked with Kenton Peterson, owner of TwoPturf, to purchase Weather Resistant, Durable, Low Maintenance, 100% Recycled Furniture. We went with a picnic table and a Adirondack TÊTE-À-TÊTE set.
This winter we lost our bushes in this area so the city pulled them out to clear the space. We then talked again with Kenton to figure out a plan for this space. He designed a patio space that would hold all our patio furniture. He leveled out the space with rock, donated by the tenBensel family, sand and then pavers to allow for patrons to walk directly out of the patio area from the door in the studio room. TwoPturf then added some concrete to provide a small slope and smooth out the edges. They finished by adding the year to the concrete so we remember when we were able to add this improvement to the library.
We have some work to do with landscaping around this area and honestly around the entire library as well. It is hard to think about anything green while we are in such dry conditions but we will continue to dream of the possibilities.
Special thanks to our library board for your vision, support and patience and to our city staff for the work you are able to do for our library. And to TwoPturf for your work on this project and around the library as well. We hope to continue to improve the look of our outdoor library spaces.
If you do use this space please share your thoughts with us. While I would like to know if the space is comfortable and what the space works well for, I would also like to know if the library’s free WiFi works well in this area. The free WiFi is on 24/7 at the library and this is one of the reasons to add seating outside the library, so patrons can utilize this service any time of the day.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (Library Improvement Grant #22.14)
