My husband and I used to live in Fort Wayne, In and moved away in April 2002...not long after the tragic events of 9/11 so it is very easy to remember. During the time we have been gone so much has changed that whenever we come here for vacation we spend quite a bit of time driving through the city and surrounding areas to see what all has been changed. My husband grew up in New Haven, IN just minutes from Fort Wayne so he knows the area very well.
My son being the book lover he is always loved going to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne. It was a large library with an excellent Genealogy section which my mother really liked.
The library was recently remodeled...the grand opening was held January 27, 2007. Unfortunately I have no pictures from before the remodel was complete, but I took pictures of the library while we were there yesterday and I was surprised to find out, through a search of AR, that the library had never been brought up in a blog before. The remodel project cost approximately $84 million of tax payer money. The library originally opened in 1895 with 3,606 books and now employs over 3,000 people.
The library is 2 stories and resembles a mall to me. It has a cafe/bookstore within its walls, self help computers for ordering new cards or reporting lost cards, an art gallery, a computer section, a patio for relaxing, 5 meeting rooms accommodating up to 500 people, a huge media section with DVD's, music and much more. Each wing of books, youth, children's, adults, Genealogy...are all separated and very spacious. There is even a Science and Technology wing! I walked through the Genealogy section yesterday, which is the 2nd largest in the US, among the other wings. I did not take any photos inside the actual library wings to avoid disrupting the researchers and other library patrons.
Near the cafe/bookstore is a shelf with used withdrawn books the library sells. I picked up a couple, one for my son and one for me. The books are $0.25 each or 5 for $1.00.
This is the picture of the front of the library. It is so big this picture really does not do it justice.
This is The Jeffrey R. Krull Art Gallery which is 3,100 sq. ft. by itself..
This is the main floor walkway. Off to the left of this photo are the self help computers, the check out station and the general info desk.
Up ahead to the left is the adult section of books and the doors to the patio and the bookstore/cafe.
This is the Children's Services Department located on the main floor just inside the front doors.
The wing contains a children's play area, a slide with benches and salt water fish tanks as shown below.
My son loves fish tanks and we have always wanted to get one this size...but we haven't had the room in our house.
This is the 2nd floor. Off to the right if this photo is the Genealogy section and a little further down on the right is Media section.
All along the edge of the middle are display cases with varying objects; gems and stones, embroidery, an object the library would like to identify, etc...
At the far end to the left is the Science and Technology wing.
This is the patio for relaxing and reading.
The cafe/bookstore is just inside to the left.
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The Allen County Public Library: One Stop Along My Vacation Way
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There is No Place Like Home
Chastity Guevara - RentalsManaging your investment as if it were our own!Office: 520-316-0004 Fax: 520-316-0010Copyright © 2008, All rights reservedThe Allen County Public Library: One Stop Along My Vacation Way
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View my other Fort Wayne, IN Vacation Posts Here!
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Chastity - Very nice photographs but I am waiting for my nature pics, don't forget OK?