HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Hanceville Public Library employees and volunteers will be able to provide snacks and refreshments for the many groups that use the library, thanks to a grant that allowed the library to perform a major overhaul of its kitchen and breakroom area.
The grant was from the same organization that aided the library in the construction of its Reading Garden in 2022 – the Alabama Mountains, Rivers & Valleys Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council. The grant, intended for community enrichment projects, is available once a year. As soon as the clock ran out on the mandated 12 months after the Reading Garden grant, the library applied for funds a second time – this time to refurbish its outdated kitchen and breakroom area.
“This is a continuation of that grant when they first did the outdoor project (The Reading Garden) and now they wanted to do this,” said Cherrie Haney, Cullman County’s representative for the RC&D Council. “They wanted to do these projects to bring more children into the library and that’s what it’s all about.”
On Tuesday, April 30, library staff and local officials gathered at the library to have a look. Librarian Shirley Burden welcomed the group, thanking the City of Hanceville and the RC&D Council, and Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, congratulated both the Cullman County Public Library Board and the Hanceville Public Library on the renovated space.
Shedd spoke to the crowd of library lovers and said, “I commend you, and it’s beautiful.”
New Cullman County Public Library System Director Amber Thornton shared in the group’s enthusiasm for the project.
“You can tell this place is special when you walk in here. You can tell that they love it and care about it because they’re willing to put work into it to make everything better,” she said. “I just appreciate the leadership down here, and you all, for making her ideas come to life. I appreciate that and I look forward to what we can do together in the future.”
The kitchenette area used to be a dark, tiny space with exposed shelving and outdated wallpaper and very little cabinetry. The staff found issues with storage space for snacks provided to community homeschool and other children’s groups that regularly visit the library, as well as potential safety hazards with an exposed water heater and pipes.
The generous grant from the RC&D Council allowed the kitchen a complete makeover, now with more cabinets to store snacks and supplies, new countertops and paint and brand new appliances.
Hanceville resident and library volunteer Joyce Barnett laughed and shared, “We moved from the year 1960 to 2024, finally!”
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