Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

Library in Celina plans for addition

Wing would house rocks

By William Kincaid
Photo by Shelley Grieshop/The Daily Standard

Professor Ken Strickland, curator of the mineral collection at the Mercer County Library in Celina, shows a young visitor one of the specimens in the collection. The library may undergo an expansion project to add a wing to house the rare minerals, if all funds are raised.

Officials at the Mercer County Library hope to build a $500,000, three-story wing to the Celina library to house its collection of rare minerals.  
A fundraising campaign to raise nearly $300,000 is set to begin next year, library Director Austin Schneider said.
In 2006 Ron and Ruth Langsdon of St. Marys donated part of their rare mineral collection to the library. The collection - which the library claims is the largest in Northwest Ohio - contains more than 600 minerals from around the world, including India, China, Africa and Brazil.
But there is not enough room in the library to showcase them all, Schneider said.
Therefore, the library wants to add a three-story wing to the north of the existing entrance sometime in the next two years.
The estimated cost of the 2,400-square-foot addition is $500,000, and the selected architect is Garmann/Miller & Associates, Minster. The library currently has $200,000 in its general fund, is seeking a $5,000 grant from the Midwest Electric Community Connection Fund and will embark on a donation campaign in 2009.
"We'll probably do advertising to give people an opportunity to take part in it. We'll be contacting businesses by mail," Schneider said, adding it will not be a door-to-door campaign.
"We do realize that these times are a little difficult right now," he added.
Schneider said the library has been putting aside money for a few years to come up with the $200,000.
If the library acquires the necessary money, Schneider said he hopes to begin at the end of 2009. None of the library's operations or activities will be affected by construction, he said.
The rock and mineral collection is open to the public during normal library hours, with tours available for schedule. A majority of groups interested in tours are from the schools, Schneider said. The tour usually includes participants getting a mineral kit with 20 minerals in sand and a gold miner's pan to search for each mineral by color, shape and texture.
Photo by Shelley Grieshop/The Daily Standard

The rock mineral display at the Mercer County Library in Celina holds only a portion of the minerals donated to the library. Library officials would like to construct a three-story wing to the existing library to house the collection.

Additional online stories on this date
Adam Fennig of Celina stood in Mercer County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday morning fighting to keep his emotions in check as he apologized to the family of Megan Ann Jeffries prior to sentencing on misdemeanor charges of vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence. [More]
Two Coldwater teachers can redirect their mandatory National Education Association (NEA) union dues to the Make-a-Wish Foundation after settling a lawsuit over what the union supports. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
ST. MARYS - A debate it wasn't, as both candidates for Auglaize County commissioner were aligned on every issue discussed during a luncheon on Wednesday. But it was an opportunity to hear what and how the two men present their views.
The local health department would like to partner with other agencies and businesses that administer flu shots in order to provide area residents the best long-term protection from the seasonal illness.
Just by taking a quick glance at the statistical breakdown in the Western Buckeye League, it's not hard to see why Celina and Elida remain as the final two winless teams in the league.
Fans of the Masters golf tournament know that Saturday is considered "moving day." It's a day when those who will contend for victory need to move up in the standings.
Coldwater at St. Henry
"The Backyard Battle" pits two teams separated by five miles and a lot of rivalry. It's been a series that Coldwater has dominated in winning the last 11 meetings, the last St. Henry win coming in 1996.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The best fans - Grand Lake Area schools have been regulars when it comes to being named Fans of the Week by Lima television station WTLW, which broadcasts the nightly Sports Report five days a week.
Compiled by Ryan Hines
and Gary R. Rasberry
The Celina and St. Marys boys golf teams traveled to Stone Ridge Golf Course in Bowling Green on Wednesday for the Division I Boys Golf Sectional.