By Kim Blaha | SPL Executive Director

Obtain a building site: Almost completed
The Town of Syracuse has offered us the property at 705 N. Dolan Drive as the site for our new library building. A deed has been drawn up by the Town Attorney, Jay Rigdon, and is in the process of revision, according to the   recommendation of the Library’s Attorney, Steve Snyder.

Environmental Site Assessment Studies, Phase I & II: Done
Possible site clean-up: In process
Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) has provided us a grant to have two Environmental Site Assessment studies completed.

Phase I, completed in February, involved research into the history of the property to determine the likelihood of soil and water contamination at the site.

According to the report, “Past property uses included the Syracuse Fire Department, municipal water pump house, and the municipal wastewater treatment plant and lagoons. Operational equipment associated with these uses could indicate the ‘likely presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products’ as noted in the standard.”

Phase II was completed in July. This study included soil boring and groundwater sampling. The report noted that some elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the groundwater were found, but nothing so drastic as to require action. There is a suspected underground storage tank on the property that will have to be removed if it is determined to be present. We are working with MACOG to see if there is any more funding for that process.

The next steps will be choosing an architect and finding the funding for construction. We have been working with Arkos Design, who did our feasibility study, and they have provided some rudimentary drawings of possible building design and placements on the property.
​
We will be working with Baker Tilly for building project funding advice and searching for grants and donations. After we move to the new building, we will sell the old library building, and use the funds to pay down the debt.

Attendees will need to solve a series of puzzles in the Rosalyn Jones Room to unlock the master box to escape.
T
he library has four slots available for registration at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2; 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11; 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19; and 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24 (This last slot has been booked). Click the date you are interested in on the library’s online calendar, http://rb.gy/6udmk, and register digitally.
​
If none of the time slots work, reach out to Michelle Parker to set up an alternative time for the escape room. Call her at (574) 457-3022, ext. 2008, or by email at mparker@syracuse.lib.in.us.

Resident library cards have no added cost since they are paid for by residents’ tax dollars. Beyond gaining access to a wealth of reading materials and DVDs, SPL library card holders can visit and check materials out from any Evergreen Indiana library, including Milford, North Webster or Ligonier, to name a few. SPL patrons can also use digital resources like Libby or Hoopla to read e-books; listen to audiobooks and music albums; or watch television shows, movies and documentaries. Hotspots are another popular item at the Syracuse Public Library and help connect patrons with the internet in their homes or wherever they may roam.

As a bonus, everyone who signs up for a new library card in September will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. All ages are included in the drawing.
​
Syracuse Public Library also offers non-resident library cards, available at a rate set by the state of Indiana. Those who sign up for a non-resident library card will also be eligible to take part in the drawing.
For details about our card policies, visit www.syracuse.lib.in.us/policies-and-procedures.html.

Unfortunately, the new company was unable to keep up with the volume and complexity of Indiana’s public library routes. While their administration was capable and communicative and some promising progress was made during the two months, the impact on libraries was felt widely. Many deliveries were made in error or not at all, mostly due to staffing and driver issues. For these combined reasons, the Indiana State Library will be pivoting back to the previous courier service to carry out the current contract. NOW Courier will assume ownership of all library materials currently in transit on Sept. 1. They will utilize the week of Sept. 4 to sort materials received, and then begin delivering to library locations the week of Sept. 11.

In an effort to help the new courier start smoothly, resource sharing in state -– including Evergreen Indiana, SRCS and Indiana Share -- will be paused temporarily. Evergreen patrons may still borrow in person from all member libraries and place holds, but interlibrary holds will not be occurring until Sept. 17. Evergreen users will also have full access to the Indiana Digital Library eBooks and audiobooks through Libby and Hoopla.

While material holds are paused, already-placed holds will be fulfilled once deliveries resume. You do not have to cancel or resubmit your holds. Since the Syracuse Public Library is an Evergreen Indiana library, our patrons can visit and check out needed materials that are not available at SPL from other Evergreen Indiana libraries, such as Milford, North Webster, Cromwell, Ligonier, to name a few. You can find a full list of Evergreen libraries here.

Staff at SPL can help you place holds at other local Evergreen Indiana libraries. You will just need to pick the materials up from that library. As always, our digital resources -- Libby and Hoopla -- are available and offer access to hundreds of digital e-books, audiobooks, magazines, movies, and TV shows.

​We appreciate your patience during this transition.

Applications can be picked up at the Syracuse Public Library's circulation desks (upstairs and downstairs), or you can download an application by clicking here.

For decades, Brower had been a major proponent of lifelong learning at the library. She touched the lives of many people who came through the library's doors with creative programs, an infectious sense of humor and acts of kindness.

Everyone is welcome to come and go from the remembrance as they need to. During it, attendees can share their memories of Brower and talk with each other. Library staff have put together a slideshow, which will play throughout the remembrance. The Friends of the Syracuse Public Library will also serve cookies and refreshments.

The library will close early at 4 p.m. on July 24 so staff can attend the remembrance.

The Indiana State Library has changed the transit company that was used by all Indiana libraries to send and receive materials. With any change, there is a transitionary period, which may result in some holds taking longer to be received.

The Syracuse Public Library asks everyone to have patience during this transition. Over time, hold times should be reduced.