Library to get new outdoor benches thanks to Friends group
by Steve Kadel
staff writer
Jan 31, 2013 | 463 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Brandon Gerig of Moab peruses the Internet on his laptop at Grand County Public Library. Patrons will soon be able to connect to the web while sitting on new benches outside the building. Photo by Steve Kadel
Brandon Gerig of Moab peruses the Internet on his laptop at Grand County Public Library. Patrons will soon be able to connect to the web while sitting on new benches outside the building. Photo by Steve Kadel
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Patrons of the Grand County Public Library will soon be able to sit outside on new benches to talk, read or access the building’s wireless Internet connection.

Three wood and metal benches, fabricated by Moab 4X4 Outpost, are gifts from Friends of the Library. Adrea Lund, the library’s assistant director, said the benches might be installed within a week.

“You should be able to access [Internet] from the benches outside,” she said, noting that the library’s Internet hotspot is provided free of charge by Emery Telecom. “We’re excited about having them produced locally. They look great.”

The benches were made according to a design the library’s maintenance employee, Jay Sanders, fashioned from examples online.

It’s not the only recent gift from the Friends, however. Lund said the group also provided new bar code scanners for checking out items at the front desk and replacement scanners for broken ones in the circulation desk and children’s room desk.

The library gives the Friends group a wish list and the nonprofit organization buys what it can with money it gets from twice-annual used book sales and the sale of books in the library’s lobby.

During 2012, Friends provided prize money for the library’s teen art contest and exhibit, contributed money for books for Moab Reads, and bought an Xbox for the after-school gaming program sponsored by Building Essential Assets Through Community and Outreach Networking.

Friends President Belinda Ledbetter said the group disbanded briefly a few years ago to acquire nonprofit status, which was granted in October 2010. Now there are 30 members.

“We are always looking for new members,” said Ledbetter. “We have two missions. One is to provide books at a good price to the community and we balance that with raising money to do special projects for the library.”

For those who want to volunteer, the next work session to prepare for the spring book sale will be Thursday, Feb. 7, in the old senior center. Hours will be from 9 a.m. until noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

For more information or to join the Friends of the Library, contact Ledbetter at 435-719-5086.
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