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Blue Rapids Receives Federal Funding for Library Project

By Greg Bebermeyer

12/06/2013

(KMZA)--The Marshall County community of Blue Rapids has received a $90,000 grant-loan from USDA Rural Development for an expansion project at the city’s public library.

Plans are under way to double the size of the historic limestone library. The library is currently about 800-square-feet, and expansion to the north on city-owned land would provide about 700 more feet of space.

The total project cost will be nearly $241,000. USDA Rural Development will provide a $50,000 grant and a $40,000 loan for the project. Money from a bequest and other library funds committed to the project so far will provide just over $130,000.

Lawrence Architect Hans Fischer, who works on library projects throughout Kansas, is the architect for the project. Library board members want to enlarge the library to accommodate books, technology and programming, including youth and children’s activities and book clubs, and to provide a meeting area for activities such as community educational programs.

The library, built in 1875, is the oldest library in continuous use in Kansas and is on the state and national registers of historic places.

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