Hamilton County Library's Grand Reopening

by Michele Boy | August 1, 2024

The long wait is over. The Hamilton County Library has reopened on Main Street. A grand reopening was held on Tuesday afternoon with tours all day.
Library Director Amy Brucker choked up as she addressed the large crowd of library board members, county commissioners, patrons, children, and guests. “Growing up I spent a favorable amount of my summers here in the library. I’d read, clean, organize, shelve books, and listen to vinyl records in a small room across from the circulation desk– the Top Gun soundtrack was my favorite. The memorable library from my youth looked much different than the library I have worked at over the years. And today, the library has changed again. But it’s my continued goal for this beautiful building to stay a memorable and happy place… a place to connect, educate, and bring our community together.
Brucker continued, “I cannot take full credit for the idea of expanding the library. When I came to work 13 years ago for then Library Director, Joyce Armstrong, she had a vision to expand the library.”
Armstrong was in attendance. She spoke of the beginnings and how far they have come.
Over 225 people came to tour the facility and to be a part of history.
Patron after patron commented on how amazing the facilities were.
Brucker commented, “Every room we designed had an intended purpose, for both patron and community use. My vision is to have those rooms full all day long being used for programs and events, personal meetings and work spaces, community services meetings for veterans and our youth, children checking out books, and more.”
Amy concluded, “The library is truly built for the next chapter. The staff and I are so excited to start programming and events. We invite the community to use the building and the rooms we have available for educational and meeting use. We kick programming off Thursday evening with a lock-in for several deserving young readers. We have a busy August schedule with school starting, our first author series event, and a youth STEAM day."
Brucker added, “I couldn’t imagine a place that was more worthy of my time.”
Stop in to visit during normal library hours.

photo - From L to R - Wiens Construction Project Mgr. Doug Anderson, Justin Krehbiel Construction Supt, Architect Nick Nemechek, Colten Soelzer, Toni Smith, Staci Stephenson, Amy Brucker, Kaylee Schwieterman, Daliz Oquendo, John Simon, Nikki Schwerdfeger, Keith Puckett, Mike Lewis, Andy Coleman, Denise Finlay, Craig Norton, Stan Englert/photo by Krista Norton