By JOSH AYERS
Staff Writer
Twenty-one years after it opened, Dexter city officials gathered at Keller Public Library last Wednesday to break ground on a new addition to the building - an addition made possible by a donation from Bud Keller.City Administrator Mark Stidham introduced the Dexter Board of Aldermen and Dexter Mayor Jason Banken."Thank you to Mr. Keller," said Banken. "I can't believe 21 years have gone by since we first got this library open. It is an incredible gift to this city and the surrounding community.""A lot of people don't fully realize how much is here or how much this library is used. It is truly a special gift to this city, and I thank you very much." commented Banken. "To be invited here today to add on to the library is just another wow factor."Banken continued by saying, "Here we are again, and he (Bud Keller) sees the need we have and is generous enough to bring us another resource to the community again and to add on. It's a very special day."Library Director Pam Trammell addressed the group next. "Thank you Mayor and Mark (Stidham). Thank you to the aldermen and the department heads, to the contractor Steve Brown with Brown Construction for being here, and thanks to everyone for joining us today to celebrate this exciting event in the life of our library and our Trammell introduced the library board and thanked them for their work and acknowledged the Friends of the Library board members and thanked them as well."We are all here today because we share the same belief," said Trammell, "that a public library contributes in a vital way toward a quality of life and that when we enhance the life of even one of our citizens, we have elevated the entire community."She continued, "A public library connects people and builds a foundation of opportunities for lifelong learning. It's our mission to help them from their earliest childhood years to find the culture, information, education, recreation and inspiration that they may seek.""There are so many ways this addition will further this mission." Trammell said, "It will provide more space for collections, study rooms and program presentations. We are thrilled for what this will allow us to offer our patrons.""It's a privilege to serve our community from this really beautiful environment," Trammell continued. "And we are honored by Mr. Keller's immense guidance, support and foresight."After Trammell finished her remarks, library board President Renee Trout opened with a quote from Albert Einstein, "The only thing you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.""Libraries give us access to infinite knowledge, stories that can take us to worlds away and resources that teach us to find all the answers we will ever use," Trout commented. "It is so fortunate for Dexter to have such an impactful benefactor in Mr. Keller.""We are here today because his generosity gave us a place where children can develop a love of the library that will keep them learning for the rest of their lives," Trout stated, "and today, this will continue the legacy he named for his mother, Ola Keaton Keller."After Trout's remarks, Banken closed the indoor portion of the ceremony, thanking all for their attendance and inviting everyone to proceed outside to officially break ground on the new addition.Before going outside, Keller briefly addressed the audience, thanking them for their attendance and stating he was happy to be in attendance for this event. At 95 years of age, Keller, who resides in Florida, still routinely makes the trip to Dexter.After the ground-breaking ceremony, Trammell elaborated on the use of the new addition."So exciting -- it is just so exciting." Trammell said, "He (Bud Keller) has looked at this and thought about funds for the library for a long time. He has had an ongoing interest in it and what we are doing and what our needs are."Trammell said the new addition will be 1,100 square feet off the north side of the building. This will give them additional room for shelves and two new private study rooms."We can accommodate tutors or interviewers or even attorneys from out of town doing depositions," said Trammell, "or a group that needs to be on their laptop and phone at the same time as they conduct live business."You see those study rooms in larger libraries, but not many our size," said Trammell. "It's a privilege to be able to have that service to offer our patrons, our visitors and our guests."Additional storage will be available for all of the program material. "Our children's programs are dynamic." said Trammell. The addition will have room for all the crafts, costumes and wall hangings. There will also be additional room for the donated books collected all year for the annual book sale in November.Trammell stated they will be able to increase their shelf size and increase the size of their most popular sections, which are audio, large print and young adult.At this time, Trammell is unsure of the projected completion date, but stated it was started on time. Trammell also said she has contacted former librarians and other former employees to ask for help moving everything once the addition is completed. "It will be a task," said Trammell. "But won't it be fun!"