Library opens on Moran Prairie

There was no shushing the noise at Moran Prairie’s library Saturday as an upbeat crowd sauntered through the spotless building at its grand opening.

“It’s just a very open, warm and friendly place,” said Spokane County Library District director Mike Wirt, as he greeted patrons and showed them around the district’s 8,200-square-foot branch.

The main stacks of books are bisected by reference materials and small tables. Cutouts of clouds hang above the elaborately decorated children’s area, and in the back is a glassed-in patio with amenities for reading outside.

Windows are plentiful, and natural light is visible from almost every corner of the building.

“We wanted everybody to be able to see what’s going on in there,” Wirt said.

Other amenities include a combined reference and checkout counter, a drive-up book drop, and a machine that dispenses what is probably the only 25-cent cup of coffee in town.

“It’s really up to date,” said Marie Supon after watching the ribbon-cutting ceremony, dropping off some books and heading to the teen section.

“We’re trying to make libraries an attractive place for teens to hang out,” Wirt said.

On one end of the building, there’s casual seating and two study rooms with outlets for laptops.

Additionally, there is wireless Internet access – an amenity the district plans to install at all of its branches over the coming year.

What started as a book drop-off at a Moran Prairie fire station eight years ago evolved into a small library at the Cedar Canyon Village shopping center in 2002 as the area grew.

“Definitely this feels like a library,” said Nick Herberger, as he checked out the new facility with his family and about 70 others at the opening.

“I like all the books,” said his daughter Abbie, 6.

The new branch holds three times the materials as the old one, district spokeswoman Beth Gillespie said.

The library cost $1.6 million and was funded with a capital facilities area and bonds approved by voters in 2003.