JERSEY: Jerseyville Public Library “opening doors to imagination and discovery” with expansion grand opening
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By Steven Spencer
Steven Spencer/Jersey County Journal
Jovee and Islee Hileman joined Library Director Judy Pruitt and their father President of the Library Board of Trustees Josh Hileman to cut the ribbon of the new Jerseyville Public Library expansion. Just like Hileman did himself for the expansion in 1987.
The long-awaited day finally came to the Jerseyville Public Library on Friday, April 25, as the community celebrated the grand opening of the library’s new expansion.
A crowd joined outside the library Friday to kick off a weekend of celebrating with a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony.
Library Director Judy Pruitt, Mayor Kevin Stork, retired Library Director Anita Driver and President of the Library Board of Trustees Josh Hileman spoke Friday thanking the community, donors, and the hundreds of people who brought the project to reality.
Although they broke ground on the project just 300 days ago the work on this major expansion has been going on for 15 years.
“Today marks a new chapter in our community’s story. A chapter filled with opportunity, knowledge, and connection. This expansion isn’t just about adding square footage, it’s about opening doors to imagination and discovery. With more space for books, technology and programs we’re creating a hub where every resident young and old to learn and to grow and to dream. Our library has always been a cornerstone of Jerseyville and now it stands stronger and more vibrant than ever,” Mayor Stork said.
Mayor Stork said even though the building seemed to pop up overnight it wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of Driver, Pruitt, Site Superintendent Caleb Goode, the dedicated staff and an invested community.
Steven Spencer/Jersey County Journal
A group of “JPL kids” stand outside the Jerseyville Public Library for Friday’s ribbon cutting.
“Together we built more than a building. We’ve built a future,” Mayor Stork said.
Pruitt thanked Mayor Stork for loudly championing the library at every opportunity and always backing it up with his actions like helping to assemble the new Discovery Zone.
“That is the core of the support displayed by all of these stakeholders,” Pruitt said. “Mayor stork you’re at the head of a long line of people who not only vocalizes support for the library but when it comes time to show up and back up words with actions, even actions that might go unnoticed or fail to receive public acknowledgment, your commitment to the library to help the library advance its mission never wavers.”
Pruitt also recognized retired director Anita Driver for her dream to expand and improve the space and resources available at the Jerseyville Public Library. Even when faced with setbacks like the COVID pandemic.
Pruitt said the two are in contact every day and the job couldn’t be done without Driver.
“All of you have been witness to her 40-plus years of dedicated library service and her success in establishing this institution as an essential pillar of this community,” Pruitt said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to step in for all the fun parts of this expansion project, reap the rewards of Anita’s decades of library leadership and most of all receive hands-on mentorship from her for nearly three years.”
Driver said with the library weeding out books to make space for new ones and using multiple storage units, the community had a great need for the expansion.
“There comes a point where services are diminished by the constraints of the building you occupy,” Driver said.
Steven Spencer/Jersey County Journal
Mayor Kevin Stork and retired Library Director Anita Driver thank the community and the 100s of people dedicated to making the new expansion of the Jerseyville Public Library possible.
“This grand new library is the labor of many,” Driver said while also thanking fellow JPL retiree Chris Maness. “I have said for many years I was the brawn and she was the brain.”
Driver said it’s amazing how much everyone has contributed to the expansion. Private donors, Friends of the Library, the Board of Trustees and the community as a whole.
She also said one of her favorite stories from the entire venture is about two “JPL kids” who grew to be strong community leaders and bring the dream of the expansion to reality. Caleb Goode and Josh Hileman.
Hileman thanked everyone who played a part in creating a fantastic library, including the Board of Trustees.
“This is a group of extremely talented and dedicated individuals. Thanks to each one of you for your commitment to our community and for sharing your expertise,” he said.
Before inviting his daughters up to help cut the ribbon, just like he did for the 1987 expansion, Hileman paraphrased the Greatest Showman describing all the changes and excitement happening at the Jerseyville Public Library.
“If you haven’t been to the Jerseyville Public Library lately, you haven’t been to the Jerseyville Public Library,” he said. “Whether you were here last year, last month or even last week you are sure to see something new today.”
