Big Sandy Public Library is closed this week for carpet replacement. The renovation work began last week on Thursday and will continue for the duration of this week. The library will reopen next week for regular operating hours. The decision to replace carpeting is based on wear and tear the facility has experienced due to heavy traffic from local patrons.
Darlene Cline, the head Librarian in Big Sandy, explained the decision to replace the carpet: “We had the funds to be able to do it. There are rips that create tripping hazard areas and now is a good time to get it done.” She also explained that the carpet would be replaced with carpet tiles, which have unique advantages for higher traffic public buildings like the library. If the new carpets are damaged or stained, repairing the issue is far easier and less expensive. The damaged square simply needs to be removed and a new one installed in its place. This will help ensure that the library remains an attractive and hazard free location well into the future, with minimal money spent.
The renovation began last Thursday with the boxing up of books and moving shelves to facilitate the removal of the old carpet and installation work. “We moved all the bookshelves today (last Thursday). We got all the books off the shelves and boxed. We are ready for them to come in tomorrow… and start ripping up the old carpet. The electrician has to come and get some things tidied up before they lay carpet.” Specifically, the electrician was needed to clean up the outlets set into the floors around the building to prepare for the new rug’s installation. After the first stage of replacement, the staff will move shelves and books to the newly carpeted areas in order to prepare for other areas of the building to be replaced.
The project will cost around $24,000 to complete, which will be paid for using the funds the library received from Dora Mahood’s estate. The library initially received $50,000, some of which was used for repainting and the purchase of additional bookshelves.
The replacement of the facility carpets is one of several changes happening at the Big Sandy Library. One noticeable change is evident in the recent work that has taken place in respect to weeding the library’s collection. The collection is subject to smaller scale work weeding out books that have become dated, damaged, or simply aren’t checked out by patrons. In the latter part of 2024, under the guidance of administrators from the Chouteau County Library, 992 books were culled from the collection. For scale, the library now has a collection consisting of 7,973 volumes.
A large number of the volumes came from the biography section as well as the 100-200s section: the generalities, philosophy, psychology, and religion sections. The children’s books were also subject to heavy weeding, removing outdated nonfiction, easy reader, and other books. The current plan is to update the collection from books weeded out of the Fort Benton Library’s collection. Books removed from the Big Sandy collection were sold in a library sale. The remaining books were donated.
For additional information about the goings on in the county public libraries, check out their website: chouteaucountylibrary.net.
