The Ellisville Public Library celebrated its grand opening Thursday after more than six years of planning and development. City and county dignitaries and library representatives spoke about the hard work it took to convert the Ellisville library from a small, crowded room in city hall to a new 4,000-square-foot facility.
“This community really needs a library... and this was a success because of a lot of people working together,” said Ellisville Mayor Tim Waldrup. “This is something we should all be proud of and use so it can continue to grow. The library has seen a 300 percent increase in the last month. Before, you couldn’t even get in it.”
The history of the Ellisville Public Library dates back to 1961, moving to city hall in 1965. In 2002, Paulette Entrekin began the search for funding of a new building. Those funds began trickling in two years later when USDA Rural Development offered the first of three grants. All together, USDA Rural Development offered $275,000, with the U.S. Department of Housing and Rural Development (HUD) included a $250,000 line item grant, and the Mississippi Library Commission contributed a $300,000 public library capital improvement grant. Other funds came from the City of Ellisville and Jones County, as well as the Friends of the Ellisville Public Library.
Burris Wagnon Architects, based in Jackson, designed the building, with Max Robertson Construction Co. in Ellisville handling the construction.
Pat Holifield, president of the Friends of the Ellisville Public Library, said interest in the library quickly built. “My husband (Ellisville alderman James Holifield) was appointed chairman of the library board, and said we needed $75,000 to furnish this beautiful, empty building,” she said. “We used one of Mayor Waldrup’s favorite methods and formed an ad hoc committee. During that initial meeting, 30 to 40 people showed up and donated $4,000.” In total, over $77,000 has been raised with additional money used for landscaping and a summer reading program.
Mitch Stennett, who heads the Economic Development Authority of Jones County, said the library will be beneficial to residents of Ellisville and Jones County. He noted a love for books that began at a young age, when his mother was a school librarian. “Over time, my mom and I grew to learn to love to read together,” he said. “Today, I’ve got thousands of hardback and paperback books on my shelves and I can’t bear throw or give any of them away.”
However, Stennett said the Ellisville Public Library would be the recipient the next time he does any cleaning. Thursday, he donated autographed copies of three books — “The Associate” by John Grisham, “Escape in Iraq” by Thomas Hamill and “Boomtown USA” by Jack Schultz.
Other speakers on the program included Andy Dial, president of the Jones Co. Board of Supervisors; Win Ellington, field representative from U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran’s office; and Mary Louise Breland, director of Laurel-Jones Co. Library System Inc.
For more information about the Ellisville Public Library, visit www.laurel.lib.ms.us. The Friends of the Ellisville Public Library is looking for new members and can be reached at (601) 477-9271 or ellpublic@laurel.lib.ms.us.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Photo/David Owens
Ellisville Library celebrates grand opening
Event was six years in the making
- Local News
-
-
Police investigate several burglaries on Euclid Avenue
The Laurel Police Department has taken two people into custody as the police department continues to investigate several burglaries which have occurred in the Euclid Avenue area.
-
Rotarians see huge success
The Laurel Rotary Club saw a great turnout as they sold hundreds of spaghetti plates Saturday during its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser.
-
Arrest made in ‘fire victim’ scam case
Local law enforcement authorities have arrested the man suspected of a number of scams in Jones and neighboring counties.
-
Council to discuss pay increase
The Laurel City Council next week will once again consider granting a change concerning the city’s building inspector.
-
Agriculture is big business in Miss.
Business and industry leaders, as well as Jones County Junior College students, gathered at Ronald E. Whitehead Advanced Technology Center Thursday for the college’s 7th Annual Economic and Technology Symposium.
-
American Red Cross looking for local volunteers
The East Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for a few good men, women, boys and girls to join its team of disaster volunteers.
-
Annual Rotary Club Spaghetti dinner Saturday
The Laurel Rotary Club will conduct its annual Spaghetti dinner this weekend at the YWCO.
-
Officials pleased with Chancellor’s appointment
At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Lance Chancellor became the new executive director of the Jones County Emergency Management Agency.
-
Get ready for control burns in the area
Area motorists and residents may notice a lot of smoke coming from some of the county’s heavily wooded areas in the coming weeks.
-
Heidelberg has a new police chief
A longtime Jasper Countian has been named the head law enforcement official in this Jasper County town.
Huey Powe is now the Police Chief for the Town of Heidelberg. - More Local News Headlines
-
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Raw Video: Deadly Helicopter Crash in Australia
Raw Video: Smoke, Purported Gunfire in Syria
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys
Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes
NJ Museum Finds 19th Century Recording
Snow Causes Disruptions in Much of Europe
Clinton: Vetoed U.N. Syria Resolution 'travesty'
Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses
Gingrich Renews Vow to Campaign Until Convention
Romney Rolls to Easy Win in Nevada GOP Caucuses
Raw Video: Missing Family Found Alive in Ore.
Police Clear Tents From Occupy Site in DC
