Gifted land gets Shell Knob closer to new library
October 22, 2014
Steve Chapman
A proposed land donation could help the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library take a big step towards its goal of building a new library in Shell Knob.
At their meeting on Thursday, October 16, the Library’s Board of Trustees received a proposal from Charles W. Singleton III and the Danny Street and Catherine Street Income Only Trust to donate a three-acre parcel of land located in Shell Knob along Highway 39, adjacent to Meeks Lumber Company and Red Barn, for construction of a new library building. In return, Singleton would gain the right to name the new building. The board voted to accept the proposal.
Gina Milburn, Barry-Lawrence Library director, is hopeful that the actual land acceptance will take place when the board next meets on November 20. When asked about Singleton, Milburn said she had not met him personally. “My understanding is that he vacations in Shell Knob in the summer, he is a strong supporter of the community, and he wanted the library to have a nice location,” she said.
As part of the proposal, the library will agree to assume any costs involved with the land transfer. Milburn said she was not certain what those costs would be at this time. She also stated it was too early to say when the new library would actually be built.
Suzy Anglim, Shell Knob Branch supervisor, said the news of the proposal is very welcome. “We’re very excited here at the Shell Knob Library for the donation of that parcel of land, because it is in the heart of Shell Knob,” she said. “It’s centrally located, and the decor of the future building will fit into the decor of Shell Knob.”
Anglim said a lack of usable space makes a new Branch location a necessity. The current building has a total of 3,000 square feet divided equally between two levels. However, only the top level can be utilized as there are only two full-time employees to supervise activities. Anglim is hoping the new location will provide library users with 4,500 square feet of usable space.
The current Shell Knob branch already hosts a book club, preschool story time, a monthly movie program, and classes in yoga and sewing. However, according to Anglim, the new location will also offer more public computers, Wi-Fi and reading spaces for children, teens and adults.
Even with the land donation, the library will still need to raise a large number of funds to actually build the new library. When the Barry County Advertiser first reported on the Library’s efforts to build a new Shell Knob branch on July 8, the estimated cost of the new branch was about $500,000. Milburn stated that figure would not change because the estimate was only for the construction of the new building. She estimated that fundraising efforts have so far raised $4,300.
Those wishing to make donations toward the new branch can send them to the Library’s central office in Monett. The address is 213 6th Street, Monett, MO, 65708. Checks should be made out to the Shell Knob Building Fund.
Steve Chapman
A proposed land donation could help the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library take a big step towards its goal of building a new library in Shell Knob.
At their meeting on Thursday, October 16, the Library’s Board of Trustees received a proposal from Charles W. Singleton III and the Danny Street and Catherine Street Income Only Trust to donate a three-acre parcel of land located in Shell Knob along Highway 39, adjacent to Meeks Lumber Company and Red Barn, for construction of a new library building. In return, Singleton would gain the right to name the new building. The board voted to accept the proposal.
Gina Milburn, Barry-Lawrence Library director, is hopeful that the actual land acceptance will take place when the board next meets on November 20. When asked about Singleton, Milburn said she had not met him personally. “My understanding is that he vacations in Shell Knob in the summer, he is a strong supporter of the community, and he wanted the library to have a nice location,” she said.
As part of the proposal, the library will agree to assume any costs involved with the land transfer. Milburn said she was not certain what those costs would be at this time. She also stated it was too early to say when the new library would actually be built.
Suzy Anglim, Shell Knob Branch supervisor, said the news of the proposal is very welcome. “We’re very excited here at the Shell Knob Library for the donation of that parcel of land, because it is in the heart of Shell Knob,” she said. “It’s centrally located, and the decor of the future building will fit into the decor of Shell Knob.”
Anglim said a lack of usable space makes a new Branch location a necessity. The current building has a total of 3,000 square feet divided equally between two levels. However, only the top level can be utilized as there are only two full-time employees to supervise activities. Anglim is hoping the new location will provide library users with 4,500 square feet of usable space.
The current Shell Knob branch already hosts a book club, preschool story time, a monthly movie program, and classes in yoga and sewing. However, according to Anglim, the new location will also offer more public computers, Wi-Fi and reading spaces for children, teens and adults.
Even with the land donation, the library will still need to raise a large number of funds to actually build the new library. When the Barry County Advertiser first reported on the Library’s efforts to build a new Shell Knob branch on July 8, the estimated cost of the new branch was about $500,000. Milburn stated that figure would not change because the estimate was only for the construction of the new building. She estimated that fundraising efforts have so far raised $4,300.
Those wishing to make donations toward the new branch can send them to the Library’s central office in Monett. The address is 213 6th Street, Monett, MO, 65708. Checks should be made out to the Shell Knob Building Fund.
