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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, November 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 15, 2004 Gold Hill library shapes up By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune GOLD HILL — Construction on a new library branch is on schedule for a mid-February opening, says Jackson County Library Director Ronnie Budge. The 5,000-square-foot, depot-style library is going up at the corner of Highway 99 and the turn-off for Highway 234. The property was donated to the county by Sweet Machinery Inc. specifically for a library site. "I think it’s a wonderful location," Budge said. "It’s at a crossroads and will really draw people in." The town’s current 1,640-square-foot library is tucked away on a side street near City Hall. "It’s not that we didn’t like sharing space near City Hall," Budge said. "But the new building is going to offer the community so much more." About $964,000 was budgeted for the Gold Hill library from a $38.9 million bond passed by voters in May 2000 to rebuild or renovate 14 of the county’s libraries. Construction is estimated to cost $720,000. The remaining money, plus another $27,000 donated by the Ford Family Foundation, will provide enhancements to the building and grounds. Advertisement Original concerns that the new library would eliminate an adjacent downtown park have been dashed. A significant portion of the park has been maintained. Architect Doug Skelton designed the train- station style library to look out onto the grassy public area. Crews from Adroit Construction coordinated with Oregon Department of Transportation crews as ODOT began rehabilitating the downtown section of Highway 234 last spring as part of an Oregon Transportation Investment Act project. Both teams negotiated logistical challenges while roadways, sidewalks and drainage systems went through a major overhaul. While the majority of the project will be completed early in December, Budge said work will continue with "punch list" details, as well as the design and installation of shelving and furniture. Construction bids for those items are due next week for Gold Hill, Prospect and Central Point libraries, Budge said. "And after that is done, we still have to get all the books moved from the old library," she said. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities