HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Hanceville Public Library, located in downtown Hanceville, held a grand re-opening on Wednesday to show off their newly completed Reading Garden, featuring benches with umbrellas for attendants to read outside. There are also recently completely flowerbeds planted along with various pieces of art from children’s books lining the walls. The project was finished with the help of a grant from Alabama’s Mountains, Rivers and Valley’s RC&D Council. The Hanceville City Council and Representative Randall Shedd were in attendance. Many parents and children who will now be regularly enjoying the reading garden also attended.
Hanceville Librarian Shirley Burden thanked the generous donors who added their own touches to the garden, including local artist Jack Tupper who contributed the artwork on the walls, the RC&D council, Library employees Teresa Rivera and Virgil Nix, the Cobb family, City of Hanceville workers and the families who visit every week.
Hanceville mayor Kenneth Nail welcomed Eric Laney, CEO Steve Smith, Senior VP Charlie Nesmith and Melia Hestla of Merchants Bank. The current Hanceville Library used to be the site of the old Merchants Bank founded in 1907.
City Council President Jimmy Sawyer stated, “I was thinking about today how appreciative I am for all of those who have had a part in this. I mean, this is special, and it shows that we have pride for our town. We take care of, and we appreciate the churches, the schools, everything we have.”
Some of the young kids were excited to perform songs “If You’re Happy and You Know it” and “This Little Light of Mine” for the crowd. The Reading Garden is especially made for the children. The kids and families who regularly visit the library are the most important thing to Librarian Burden, who reminded the crowd of the Summer Reading Program beginning on June 1 with an educational show from the McWane Center.
(Sara Gladney for The Cullman Tribune) 
(Sara Gladney for The Cullman Tribune)
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