WILLOW WOOD – Briggs Lawrence County Public Library’s newest branch opened last week, complete with 35 new library cards issued.

Monday, June 12, 2000

WILLOW WOOD – Briggs Lawrence County Public Library’s newest branch opened last week, complete with 35 new library cards issued.

"Several people have said they are thrilled they have a library so close now," Ms. Jones said Friday from the branch location inside Symmes Valley Multi-Level.

A partnership between Briggs and the school district brought the first branch library not located in a river community like Ironton, South Point, Chesapeake or Proctorville – all of which have had libraries for some time.

"It’s the first one out in the heart of the county, so to speak," said Ms. Jones, assistant branch librarian.

Although the Symmes Valley branch opened June 5, Briggs and the school system will celebrate its grand opening June 25 with a 3-5 p.m. open house.

"I’m glad this is happening because it’s going to be a service to this community," Symmes Valley superintendent Tom Ben said.

A branch for Willow Wood patrons gives them an opportunity to share in the public system and do it more conveniently, Ben said.

So far, there’s been a favorable response, like the 35 new cards, Ms. Jones said.

The cards helped several children who were not using the main library often renew their library relationship, which is proof of the branch’s usefulness, she said.

"We have families who are frequenting the library who otherwise would not have gone to Ironton or the other branch libraries," Ben added. "That’s what it’s all about."

Briggs’s board of trustees agreed last year, renewing discussions of the Symmes Valley branch with board of education members.

Both parties agreed to start the venture, merging the resources of the Briggs collection and staff with the Multi-Level’s library space.

The library installed shelves inside the Multi-Level library for public check out earlier this year. The area will be closed from the public during school hours, although remain open for use by Symmes Valley students and teachers

Sharing facilities also means merging materials, Ms. Jones said.

"The public library brought along new adult fiction and non-fiction materials available to teachers during the school day and to the public during other hours, she said.

"And we merged in a lot of children’s and juvenile materials they can access at any time as well," Ms. Jones added. "Quite literally, the collection in the library here probably doubled overnight."

The Symmes Valley branch also offers services other branches offer – audio books, CDs, magazines, videos, copying and fax service, storytime and public Internet service.

"What they didn’t have here already, we brought with us," Ms. Jones said.

Pre-school storytime will be Mondays at 2 p.m., while the school age program Family Fun will be Thursdays at 2 p.m.

Hours of operation this summer are noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

After school starts in the fall, hours will likely change to 3-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, closed on Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The phone to the branch library, which is separate from the school phone lines, is 643-2086.