Monday, March 8, 2010
Branch make-over makes Prospect number one among libraries
Posted
by Carolyn Szczepanski on
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 11:00 AM
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Bluford branch manager Oliver Clark (far left) smiles as library director Crosby Kemper III (cheering) cuts the ribbon on the new location.
The Bluford branch of the Kansas City Public Library used to be a pretty depressing place. The building sits across the street from a dying strip mall with cracked windows and vacant storefronts. Tucked between Prospect and Wabash, it faces a row of dilapidated houses begging for demolition. Inside, the drab design contained as much color and atmosphere as a run-down dentist's office.
But, now that the $1.3 million renovation is complete, Bluford should make Brooksiders who frequent the posh Plaza branch envious of folks on the East Side.
Plenty of people lined up on Saturday to be among the first to check it out. In fact, the grand reopening drew such a crowd that valet attendants directed cars into the strip mall parking lot.
Neighborhood leaders, library administrators and city council members were all on hand to throw out their glowing adjectives about the stunning make-over. They weren't exaggerating.
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No more gray; this library has color.
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Kansas City Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks points out the prominent display about the library's namesake, Lucille H. Bluford, the longtime publisher of The Call newspaper.
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The new Bluford has different sections for adults, teens and kids. These kids bolted to their area -- funded with a $160,000 grant from New York resident Diane Brownstone -- and started digging into books about Dr. Dre and hip hop.
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Along with quotes from Oprah Winfrey and Malcolm X, the walls are hung with the history of neighborhood leaders, like Leon Jordan and Bruce Watkins.
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More technology than an Apple store: The new Bluford has more than 70 computers and that's not counting the laptops.
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Need some privacy? Check out a study room and be inspired by Barack.
Tags: Crosby Kemper III, Kansas City Public Library, Prospect Avenue, Sharon Sanders Brooks
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