Library's Santa Fe room receiving finishing touches
Staff writer
As the Marion City Library’s Santa Fe room continues to bustle with activity, library director Janet Marler is looking forward to the completion of the final outdoor amenities.
Already a new patio has been poured and dried, and sometime next year new sidewalk and parking spots will surround the library addition that hosts many special events.
“It’s definitely been a community project,” Marler said. “We wouldn’t have done it without the donations and volunteer help.”
In fact, memorial and individual donations to the library helped pay for the $140,000 Santa Fe Room. Donations also funded the new patio.
The city will pay for the sidewalk and parking lot, expected to be finished next year, Marler said.
Davey Hett, Darin Neufeld and Gerald Wiens contracted the project, and Marion High School’s construction class built it under teacher Lucas King’s direction, Marler said.
The Santa Fe room regularly hosts speakers and community events, including Santa Claus recently visiting with children, readings by authors, the garden and home tours, movies and story times for children. The 30-by-30 foot Santa Fe room is also available for private rentals, with two lengths of time available: $25 for four hours or $50 for eight hours.
Marler said that when the library moved to its current location off Third Street in 2002, they hoped the Kansas Room inside would be big enough for all activities.
“We outgrew that in no time,” said Marler. “It’ll be nice to have extra places to park.”
Last modified Dec. 18, 2014