By Terry L. Hapney, Jr.
The Ironton Tribune

Thanks to the Dr. Caleb Briggs Library Trust, $14,000 in funding allowed library leaders to renovate the children’s section at the Briggs Lawrence County Public Library in Ironton.
Gretchen Claypool, library director, said the children’s section was originally upstairs on the second floor.
“It was in the original building,” Jan Gullett, children’s librarian, said. “I was going there in the 1980s!”
The children’s section moved to its current location when renovations were done to the library in 2006. It stayed in its previous state from that time until this summer’s renovation.
One of the complaints, according to Claypool and Gullett, was the shelving was quite tall.
“It was not child friendly,” Gullett said.
The only decorative, functional piece, Claypool said, was giant bookshelf seating installed in 2006. It was a Caleb Briggs Library Trust contribution.
“We’ve kept it,” Claypool said.
Claypool, who has a 5-year-old child, said her daughter was “very interested” in that reading nook.
“There wasn’t a lot for her to do in here,” Claypool said. “She said, ‘Mommy, this is not like the other libraries.’ I’ve worked in libraries her whole life. She’s very used to going in a children’s area. She knew the difference.”
With that, Claypool had a vision for how to change the library to benefit children in the Ironton community. It began with adding a mural; the reading nook is now a “treehouse,” according to the children who enjoy it. The canopy changed from a circus-theme to leaves—the interior from blue to brown.
“They think it’s a treehouse in which to read,” Claypool said.
Other renovations include replacing the flooring in the children’s section and adding new shelving that is child sized. They added a new couch along with STEM toys.
“These new tables—you can draw on them,” Claypool said. “They’re dry-erase tabletops. We have kids in here all day doing that—having fun.”
The walls are adorned with new cabinetry. The “gadgets and gizmos” children can play with at the library now include an entire selection of snap circuits. Claypool said these are usually of interest to children between the ages of 8 and 12.
“We have scheduled for them to come in, use them, learn about engineering, learn about electricity,” she said. “The space is split between little children and older children.”
Anna Higgins, a teacher in the Symmes Valley Local School District, painted a nature-themed mural on one long wall. While the library offers children’s programming, Claypool said she is “always happier when they just come into the library.”
Claypool said a couple of weeks ago a father brought his children into the library. After seeing the new children’s section, he called a friend of his and told the person all about it, encouraging the friend to bring their children to enjoy what the library offers now.
Gullett said the new STEM board provides sensory activities that allow children to touch textures; practice lacing, buttons and snaps; and work on motor skills. Children can also use the puppet theater to put on their own puppet shows. There are felt dolls for use on a board to tell stories.
While story times are on hiatus for now, they return in September: for preschool they’re at 11 on Mondays, toddler time at 11 on Tuesdays and family story time at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays.
The renovation, according to Claypool provides “a good experience for the kids.”
“It’s a much more interactive and friendly environment now,” she said. “They come in and they know they can touch, move, change, and do.”
“We want them to have a positive library experience, to hang out and spend time here—not just come in to get books and leave,” Gullett said. “We want the whole family to come and enjoy the space.”
Library patrons may also check out a bicycle now. There is even a buggy for small children that will attach to the bicycle. In addition, the library offers a small hauling trailer unit that attaches to the bicycle. If someone wanted to ride the bicycle to the Farmer’s Market, the trailer is a big help with that, Claypool said.
The Ironton Branch is located at 321 South Fourth St. For more information, call 740-532-1124.