Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THE RECENTLY remodeled Bessemer city library shows new carpeting and bright paint scheme. The library board approved the $8,000 in remodeling, brightening up the facility and opening up the floor space for customers. The library is beginning its ramp up to spring and then summer with a reading program.
BESSEMER - The Bessemer library is preparing a return of its Family Fun events the first Saturday of the month at 11 a.m.
Family Fun consists of stories, art projects and treats. According to Melissa Rajala, librarian, it has been some time since the library offered Family Fun and this is a great opportunity for people to use their local library.
Upcoming themes for Family fun are:
-Feb. 4: Valentine's Day.
-March 4: Dr. Seuss's Birthday Day.
-April 1: Easter.
-May 6: Mothers Day.
In June, the library will transition to its start of the summer reading program, which usually serves about 50 elementary-aged kids. Also on June 11, a touring magician is coming to the Bessemer library on a Sunday afternoon.
Rajala's tenure at the library is coming up on five years.
Rajala said she graduated from college with a history degree, but did not want to teach and was wondering what to do with her herself post-college. At this point in her youthful reflection, a matronly aunt who is something of a "career whisperer" recommended she pursue the library sciences. Rajala listened, graduated with a masters in Library Science and took a job in Los Angeles, working in the county library system.
The Bessemer position became available and as an Ironwood native, she applied for the chance to come home with seven years' experience on the hard streets of L.A.
Under her leadership and direction, the library board decided last year to upgrade the library. Rajala said the library was very dark before the remodel. It had dark tile with a panty hose brown color scheme on the walls and was dismal.
The library contracted with Floor Plans in Bessemer to install new carpeting and Rajala painted the walls herself.
Part of the remodeling involved removing some book shelves and opening up the floor space to improve the atmosphere.
Kelden Witt, using a library computer on Friday, said, "I like this library because the collection is always being refreshed -new books, new DVDs, new magazines and new audiobooks."
The library also offers scanning, copying, printing and faxing for a modest fee to the public.
