Jeremy Forrest Emerald
Workers finish the new city library Thursday, which is located at 100 W. 10th Ave., which is scheduled to open Dec. 26.
Library makes its move
Residents are excited, but
area business owners are
concerned about problems
with parking shortages
Ken Paulman
City/State Politics Reporter
The Eugene Public Library’s
downtown branch is about to begin
a new chapter.
The old library, which opened in
1959, will close for good at 5 p.m. Sun
day. During the coming weeks, the li
brary’s entire collection will be moved
to the brand new facility three blocks
away at 100 W. 10th Ave.. The new li
brary is scheduled to open Dec. 26.
The new facility, located across the
street from the downtown transit
hub, will feature an expanded chil
dren’s area, spacious reading rooms
and a coffee shop. A grand opening
celebration will take place at the new
library Jan. 11.
“Everyone’s very excited, and I
think the community will be when
they see it,” Library Services Direc
tor Connie J. Bennett said.
Construction on the new building
was completed ahead of schedule,
and the move is set to begin at 8
a.m. Monday.
Downtown business owner Mike
Summers said he looks forward to the
increased activity the library will bring
to the area. Summers is the owner of
Jim the Shoe Doctor, a shoe repair
shop located next door to the new li
brary. The library project, along with
the transit hub and the reopening of
Broadway, is another step in the revi
talization of downtown that encour
aged him to move his business from
Santa Clara seven months ago.
Despite the excitement about the
new facility, sentiments are mixed.
Some area business owners are
concerned about a potential parking
shortage. The new library will have
only 70 parking spaces, which could
mean trouble for area businesses that
already have problems keeping
spaces open for customers.
“I’ve been pretty lax about it,”
Summers said, “but it could definite
ly be a problem if people using the li
brary aren’t respectful of the busi
nesses around here.”
Summers will post signs in his park
ing lot advising that it is for customers
only. The signs have a picture of a shoe,
and warn people that if they park there
illegally, they will be “toed.”
Bill Moore, a University staff mem
ber, was browsing at the old library
on Thursday. Moore said the new fa
cility was necessary because the li
brary had outgrown its existing build
ing, but as a taxpayer, he felt it may
be a little extravagant.
“I think it probably could have
been done less expensively,” he said.
The new facility will be the
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