Addition begins new chapter for Magness Library
After several months of construction, along with moving and rearranging literally thousands of books, Magness Library is ready for the grand opening of the new Col. Gentry Moffitt library addition.
The celebration will also mark one of this year’s officially sanctioned Warren County bicentennial events, and will feature an art exhibit by Warren County native Jerry Walker.
The facility will be holding a two day event, beginning with a Chamber of Commerce held ribbon cutting at 9:45 a.m. this Friday, July 27 on the west side of the building at the entrance to the new addition.
From there the festivities will move inside to the auditorium where the program will begin at 10 a.m. with county commissioner, and WCPI public radio personality, Bill Zechman giving the invocation, and local educator and Southern Standard columnist, Col. Thomas Vaughn leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Silver and Gold Band, one of the regions longest running community musical groups, will be performing. Library director Mary Robbins said the facility will also be honored to fly colors presented by Tennessee and U.S. legislators.
‘Con. Lincoln Davis and state Sen. Jerry Cooper have sent us flags,’ Robbins said. ‘We’re going to have a flag ceremony, play the National Anthem and recite the pledge to the flag. These will be both U.S. and Tennessee State flags which have flown over their respective capitols.’
Charles ‘Shot’ Nunley will present a short history of Magness Library, followed by refreshments and a reception for Walker, where he will discuss his work, which will be displayed in several areas of the library.
‘These are large pieces,’ Robbins said, ‘and when they leave here, they are going to the Sarasota Symphony.’
Tours of the new addition will be held all day Friday, from 10 a.m. until closing at 5 p.m.
The program will continue on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with Children’s Day in the new Children’s Library, which will include telling and reading stories at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This event will also feature tours and refreshments.
‘There’s going to be a lot of activities going on in the Children’s Department,’ Robbins said. ‘This will be a great time to sign up for library cards and start using the library,’ Robbins added.
The expansion and renovation, which was done entirely with private donations and at no cost to county taxpayers, will add some 4,200 square feet to the existing 6,000-square-foot facility, along with an elevator, which makes the library ADA compliant.
‘We’re going to call this the Col. Gentry Moffitt addition to the library in honor of his generous donation, which, along with some other donations, made it possible’ Robbins said. ‘We already have plaques made up. One will go on the outside of the building, and we’re going to have his picture out in the hall. And then we’re going to recognize some of the other people who contributed.’
Those include Jesse T. Walling, in honor of his parents Edgar W. and Lila Blue Walling, Ione Youngblood and Kate Dodson Smith.
‘We hope everyone will come out and help us celebrate the grand opening of the new Col. Gentry Moffitt addition to the Magness Library, tour all the wonderful new features of the facility and enjoy the beautiful art of McMinnville native Jerry Walker,’ said Robbins.
For more information, contact Magness Library at 473-2428.