After more than a year of work, Lebanon's much anticipated new library opens July 13.

When the library was being designed, Library Manager Denice Lee said, elected officials, city staff and community members wanted it to have a warm and welcoming atmosphere to sit and relax.

"This is their living room," she said. "I hope the community embraces it and uses it and loves it."

Years of observing patron habits at the old library helped Lee meet their needs better.

One example of that is found in the large print section, used mostly by elderly patrons, Lee said.

She noticed they would drag heavy chairs over so they could sit and browse the large print books.

In the new library, benches are situated in the large print stacks, "comfortable enough to sit on, firm enough to get back up easily," Lee said.

Room to move

The library is spacious and well lit. The enormous windows allow plentiful natural light. So much, in fact, one could pick up a book and read when the lights are off, Lee said.

The shorter 66-inch shelving allows patrons to walk through the aisles and feel the space, rather than feeling closed in. The shelving also allows better security, as most adults can see over the shelves with relative ease.

At the back of the main room is a large fireplace.

History preserved

In recognizing the importance of the old school on the site and preserving Lebanon's history, Lee brought in many historic pieces of furniture.

An old display case from Landstrom's Jewelers finds new life in the library.

At first, more than 100 pictures of Lebanon's history will be featured in the case.

Wooden chairs from the old library have been refinished and brought to the new building.

Some historical materials are used in new ways.

A Douglas fir timber from the old middle school gym has been granted new life as the mantle for the fireplace.

Other wood from the old middle school decorates the wall or forms benches in the foyer.

Rest awhile

Seating has been added in many places.

Each chair selection was made with careful consideration.

"We sat in a lot of chairs to find the one that's the most comfortable," Lee said. "We all thought this [chair] was comfortable. Hopefully people will agree."

In the young adult section, modular and café style seating make for a comfortable setting to read or study.

Tables create work surfaces not offered in the old building because of lack of space.

All new tables were crafted by the Oregon Corrections Enterprises, where inmate labor from the Oregon State Penitentiary is used.

Got quiet

Three study rooms have been added, allowing people to work on projects.

"It's a nice place to tutor a student," Lee added.

The rooms will allow for proctoring of tests as well.

At the old library, tutoring and proctoring tests was possible, but it was out in the open, making for a "less than ideal" situation, Lee said.

Each study room has large windows and is well lit for easy observation, to avoid security issues. A table, chairs and white board are included in each one.

Story time

One thing Lee noticed while touring other libraries was how noise traveled from the children's section all over the library.

To avoid this, the children's side is separated from the main library by semitransparent acrylic panels, allowing the rooms to feel connected while containing the noise.

With bookshelves on wheels, the large area for story time with ample soft seating can be made even larger.

A checkerboard patio connects to the children's area for reading outside on nice days.

Art painted by Thai elephants, ordered online, will decorate the walls of the children's area.

Other features of the children's section are a family restroom, coat hooks, a staff office and primary-colored skylights.

Family history

The genealogy room is spacious. One-third of the collection was previously housed in the basement, but no more.

In the genealogy room sit an old table and cabinet.

Lyle Vehrs gave the set to the library in 1941, in memory of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wittman.

"When the library moved to where we were, they didn't want to move the cabinet, so it got sold to the Donaca family," Lee explained. "It stayed in their family for more than 50 years."

When Mrs. Donaca had to leave her home, she called the library and asked if they'd like to have the cabinet back.

"We never knew it existed!" Lee said. "So my husband and I rented a U-Haul and drove up to Portland to pick it up. So now the cabinet and table are back together."

Self-checkout

A Radio Frequency ID system and tags will allow library staff to check books in and out more efficiently, Lee said.

Not only will the tags improve general security of the collection, it allows for self-checkout.

The self-checkout system sends the tag information to the library database, telling it when someone is checking out which book.

"The act of checking it out deactivates the tag, turns the security off, and prints a receipt for the book," Lee explained.

The receipt includes the books checked out, the due dates and how many books were checked out or not.

"Make sure it registered all your books so you don't set off the alarm," Lee said.

Meeting place

A community room with capacity for 100 sits opposite the library and can be used after library hours.

Stackable chairs and tables make for easy set up and tear down.

A presentation board is at the front of the room, with ample data feeds and electrical outlets. A screen can be lowered for overhead projectors.

A kitchenette connects to the room for serving catered food or snacks.

Ample work space

The old library had one room serving the purpose of work room, coat room and break room.

In the new library, staff has plenty of much-needed space to work on the various tasks required such as checking in materials and mending and cataloguing books.

A quiet, bright kitchen serves as a break room.

"When you work in customer service, you spend a lot of time helping people, which we love to do," Lee said, "but we need a quiet place to come and relax a little."

The staff will no longer have to share a restroom with the public, which Lee said will be quite a treat.

"If you needed to use the restroom, chances were it was occupied," Lee said of the old library.