Willard Library is showing off its renovation. Here’s when you can see the new spaces

Battle Creek’s Willard Library is prepared to present off its new and enhanced areas.

The public library is hosting open up homes June 9 and 10 at its Helen Warner Branch and downtown areas.

The Helen Warner Branch at 36 Minges Creek Place closed for renovations in March and reopened Might 31. The open up home starts at 5:15 p.m. June 9, with a determination of the Dean O. Barnum Amphitheater and the Joanne TenBrink Innovative Space.

Barnum, a philanthropist and Kellogg Local community College or university professor, established the $1 million Barnum-Willard Belief — the greatest gift in the 126-calendar year heritage of the library. TenBrink, a longtime Struggle Creek resident, donated additional than $95,000 to Willard Library as aspect of her estate, with some of the Inventive Area gear encouraged by TenBrink’s techniques as a learn seamstress.

“The library is delighted with these generous presents that will be an investment decision in the upcoming to reward area citizens,” Library Director Cathy Lucas mentioned in a release.

From 6 to 7 p.m., friends can examine the Creative Place and look at its new equipment, which incorporates a stitching machine, warmth push, photograph box, jewellery mend kit and metal stamping. Doorway prizes will be given absent and personnel will reveal how to do craft jobs with the gear.

The open house marks the start of inventive engineering packages at the department library, through which open up labs will be offered from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. most Tuesdays.

Mural to be showcased at downtown library

Willard Library’s downtown area at 7 W. Van Buren St. will celebrate nearby artist Jaziel Pugh’s mural from 5 to 7 p.m. June 10.

Pugh, a Battle Creek digital artist, illustrator, painter and modern-day expressionist, established the large mural in the lessen stage of the downtown library for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mural, “Two Sides to Every Tale,” includes visuals of preferred figures from Pokémon, Peanuts, Hello there Kitty and Sesame Street.

Tale proceeds

“The mural’s main is a juxtaposition between shade and aesthetic,” Pugh stated in a release. “The temper that every wall offers is a comprehensive reverse of every single other. Imagining of opposites like colorful and uninteresting, light-weight and dim, joyful and sad.”

Guests should enter and exit the library from the reduced level’s aspect entrance off the parking great deal. Gentle refreshments will be served.

For extra details, check out willardlibrary.org.

Call reporter Nick Buckley at [email protected] or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley

This report initially appeared on Struggle Creek Enquirer: Willard Library hosting open up house activities at its Battle Creek branches