Main library closing Monday; internet servers will be down Oct. 2 through Oct. 7 during move

Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 4:55 pm | Updated: 6:20 pm, Wed Sep 23, 2009.

By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments

The final day for patrons to visit the main branch of the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library before its $3.6 million renovation is Sunday.

The library will begin the move of its collections, equipment and furniture to Columbian School, 1234 W. Courtland Ave., on Monday, library director Charles Joray said. The main library's 40 staff members will be helping with the move, along with inmates from the Howard County Jail who will move furniture, desks and tables, he said.

Guyer the Mover will be moving the collections to Columbian School, he said. The estimated cost of the move is around $26,000, he said, but it will not be for certain until the actual move. The costs will be paid from the Library Improvement Reserve Fund, or LIRF.

Joray said it would take about three weeks until the temporary location at Columbian School would be open for patrons.

For the duration of the library's lease at the school, the library will pay $1 a month for the property to Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corp., and would be responsible for the building's utilities, custodial costs and general maintenance.

In the mean time, the library will have the former "Adventure" bookmobile at the main library parking lot, he said. The bookmobile will be able to pick up holds, interlibrary loans and return materials. It will also have a small collection of about 1,500 children and adult books and audio-visual items to be checked out, he said.

"This is our oldest bookmobile and it will be doing its last service," he said.

On Oct. 2, the library will be moving the online servers from the main library to Columbian School, he said. During this time, there will be no computer access at any of the libraries.

"The patrons will be only able to check out materials at the branches and that will be the only thing they can do," he said. "There will be no access to the internet and online catalogs. The only way to browse is by going to the branches. That's all they can do."

During this time, the library will not be able to collect fines or fees and will not be able to process interlibrary loan requests.

Joray says the library plans on having the server up and running by Oct. 7.

While the main library is at its temporary location, the Russiaville and South branches and the Genealogy Department at 4053 S. Webster St. will remain at their regular schedules. The bookmobiles will also not be affected.

On Oct. 31, the main library will be auctioning off what it will not need for the renovated library at 10:00 a.m. at 220 N. Union St., he said. Some of the items include: cabinets, countertops, light fixtures, ceiling fans, doors, metal shelving and chairs. A preview of the items will be on Oct. 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 31 at 8 a.m. The money the library receives will go into the operating fund, he said.

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