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The Allen County Public Library: One Stop Along My Vacation Way

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Camelot's Quest Realty

 

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Near the cafe/bookstore is a shelf with used withdrawn books the library sells.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.

Allen Couty Public Library Front View

This is the picture of the front of the library.  It is so big this picture really does not do it justice.

Allen County Library 1

This is The Jeffrey R. Krull Art Gallery which is 3,100 sq. ft. by itself..

Allen County Library Walk Way

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.

Children's Services

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.

Fish Tanks in Children's Services


Colorful Fish

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.

2nd Floor View

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.

Allen County Public Library Patio

This is the patio for relaxing and reading.

The cafe/bookstore is just inside to the left.


Other Vacation Posts

My First Vacation In I Cannot Remember How Long

A Scenic Drive Through Indiana

We Came, We Saw, We Held The Giant Pickle!

Random Cloud Pics For A Beautiful Day

Do You Ever Just Sit And Look Up At The Clouds?

Coney Island Weiner Stand In Fort Wayne, IN, A Piece Of Nostalgia


The Allen County Public Library: One Stop Along My Vacation Way


Momma I'm Coming Home

There is No Place Like Home


Chastity Guevara - Rentals
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The Allen County Public Library: One Stop Along My Vacation Way

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Chastity A. Guevara, SFR
Owner/Agent
Camelot's Quest Realty

1895 N. Trekell Rd. #11
Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Phone: 520-426-7721
Fax: 480-295-7659

Web Site: www.pinalcountyrealestate.info
Email: camelotsrealty@aol.com

 



****Ideas and views contained in this blog post are solely opinions and are in no way warranted as factual or accurate. Reader is hereby informed if information is pertinent to he/she to investigate any information on their own. Ideas and other items posted in this blog represent tidbits from various sources and are noted as such if not the sole opinion and or views of the author. Any items contained in this blog are the property of Camelot's Quest Realty and Chastity Guevara. Any reproduction is expressly prohibited within the consent of the author. Copyright 2010.****

Comments (15)

Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Chastity - Very nice photographs but I am waiting for my nature pics, don't forget OK?

Oct 13, 2008 05:04 AM
Jamie Dumaine-Russell
RE/MAX Alliance - Branford, CT

Chastity - What a beautiful library and such a wonderful place for the lovers of books and research to have in the community.  Your hubby and I have something in common.  We both grew up in New Haven but he grew up in New Haven IN and I grew up in New Haven CT. 

Oct 13, 2008 05:28 AM
Marianne Snygg
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Monument, CO
ABR, ASP, GRI, SFR

What a big library! How nice. Thanks for the photos. The county I live in has a great library, but none of the buildings are as big or nice. We just heard the other day that our library has been rated in the top 10 in the US. (Sorry if I seem to be boasting, not intending too.)

Another library that I thought was huge was the Los Angeles library. The one downtown is giantic and in a very nice building. However, because it's downtown, they have a lot of homeless people hanging out in it. That's not so nice!

Oct 13, 2008 06:34 AM
Chastity Guevara
Camelot's Quest Realty - Casa Grande, AZ

Robert - I would never forget...I have so many I am still editing and selecting...and taking more!

Donna- lol...that's cool.  I love the library...I wish my city had something half this nice.  Our library is so small.  I am thinking about trying to get something started to raise money for the library.  I just don't know where to begin.

Marianne- It's OK to boast...I don't mind.  I know it's considered to impolite in the community to attach links from ones blog to anothers and so on, but I don't mind at all.  I like to learn about other agents and there surroundings and sometimes I miss their posts or just haven't run across them yet.  I try not to do it though...I wouldn't want to upset the community.  I always like the Ft. Wayne library and I miss having such a nice big library around...I miss it even more now.  I'll have to check yours out when we visit.  I really don't like LA though...too busy and too many people and the homeless people are a turn off for sure.

Oct 13, 2008 08:08 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Wow thats quite the library!  I can see you not only like Bookstores but your family must love libraries! :-) I think we'll be seeing a resurgence of library goers in the times to come..!

Oct 13, 2008 10:37 AM
Chastity Guevara
Camelot's Quest Realty - Casa Grande, AZ

Liz - Yes, it is quite a library and yes I like libraries to.  I love to read so anything dealing with books is good for me.

Oct 13, 2008 01:14 PM
Elizabeth Nieves
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC
Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team

WOW!! That is ONE INCREDIBLE LIBRARY! I once told someone that...IF I were imprisoned...I'd want my cell to be in a library. I LOVE books. For some reason, I feel peaceful when I'm surrounded by books. NOW...I know which library I'd want to have for a prison. (Well...I don't ACTUALLY want to be imprisoned.) LOL GBU!

P.S. I'm still a little jealous that you're on vacation while I'm at home. ;-)

Oct 13, 2008 01:48 PM
Chastity Guevara
Camelot's Quest Realty - Casa Grande, AZ

Beth - Wow...I never really thought about being imprisoned before, but I would have to agree...it would be in a library or bookstore.  It is an incredible library.

I'm sorry...I promise to take you next time:)  GBU!

Oct 13, 2008 02:24 PM
Laura Watts
Positive Properties, LLC - Laurinburg, NC

Chastity-What a BEAUTIFUL Library. I would get lost in it. Our little Library could probably fit in there several times.  Thanks for sharing.

Oct 13, 2008 04:31 PM
Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography - Bryant Payden
B. Payden Photography, LLC - Manassas, VA
Northern Virginia Real Estate Photography

Chastity-

That is some library, way to go Allen County!

Oct 14, 2008 12:49 AM
Chastity Guevara
Camelot's Quest Realty - Casa Grande, AZ

Laura - Yeah...our library would fit in it several times too.  It is a great library.

Bryant - Thanks.

Oct 14, 2008 02:40 PM
Marianne Snygg
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Monument, CO
ABR, ASP, GRI, SFR

Chastity: thanks for understanding. You're too sweet. Are you still on vacation? If so, when do you return?

Oct 14, 2008 02:50 PM
Chastity Guevara
Camelot's Quest Realty - Casa Grande, AZ

Yes, I am still here...I fly back to Arizona Friday night.  No problem...I can relate.  It gets better the longer you are here.

Oct 14, 2008 03:19 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

Oh wow! That is an incredible library! And you're right. It does look like a mall. And books are always part of my travel plans too =)

Oct 14, 2008 03:44 PM
Chastity Guevara
Camelot's Quest Realty - Casa Grande, AZ

Lisa - It's nice to know there are others out there:)

Oct 15, 2008 02:09 AM