Centerville's first public library opens

CENTERVILLE — Hundreds of local residents braved the cold windy weather March 11 to take part in the opening of Centerville city's first public library.

After the ribbon was cut outside the library's front doors local residents were ushered into the 10,200 square-foot building east of Home Depot at 45 S. 400 West.

"I would hope that all of you will take the opportunity to immerse yourself in this library as a gathering place in our community — a gathering place where you can gain knowledge and information and learn to communicate and have your minds expanded beyond any possible realm of imagination with ideas and thoughts," former Centerville Mayor Michael Deamer said during a small dedication program before the ribbon-cutting.

Three white, heated tents, set up in the library's parking lot, and the library's new auditorium were filled to capacity with people watching either a magic show, puppet show, juggling act or story telling as part of the festivities. Also, a master balloon artist roamed the library crafting creations for children.

The celebration marks the end of a five-year county plan to expand library services through the county. The plan also included renovating part of the county's South Branch Library in Bountiful, expanding and renovating the Central Branch Library in Layton and building new library branches in Syracuse and Centerville.

Pete Giacoma, Davis County Library director, said the library will do several things for Davis County residents.

"First, it brings library service to a community that has not had a library before," Giacoma said. "It's just going to be a wonderful public space, civic space, as well as serving as a library."

The library will also relieve the heavy use at the county's South Branch in Bountiful, Giacoma said. Last year checkouts at the South Branch were around 575,000.

"We're hoping that we can make that library (the South Branch Library) more usable by taking 15 to 20 percent of the users who live in Centerville or the northern part of Bountiful or West Bountiful," Giacoma said.

Centerville resident Sandra Carr, who lives near the new building, was anxious for the library to open. Up until Saturday she has been taking her children to the South Branch Library. "We've been so excited for this," she said. "We can walk to it instead of driving."

Danielle Burgoyne also lives near the new library. She said she is excited for her children to be able to ride their bikes there. She said that the library is a beautiful, inviting building. "It just makes you feel like you want to come in and sit down and read a book," she said. "It's so welcoming."

Dozens of residents waited in long lines to check out books during the opening. The new library's collection is around 42,000 but Giacoma said they hope to add 10,000 items each year until it reaches 75,000 to 80,000 items.

The $2.3 million library has also been designed to add nearly 5,000 square feet when needed.

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E-mail: nclemens@desnews.com