WiLS New Business Development and Consortia Manager Sara Gold visited Independence Public Library to learn about their new building, currently under construction. Here is her story.
March 30th was a perfect spring day to pay a visit to Kayla Mathson, Director of Independence Public Library. The library is currently housed in downtown Independence in a 3-story brick building built in the early 1900s that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library shares space with a theater whose backstage walls bear signatures of cast members dating back to the early part of the 20th century.
Even though the library was filled with excitement about eggs that were close to hatching, we were just as eager to see the new library and community center currently under construction. Independence received a $4.1 million grant through Wisconsin’s Flexible Facilities Program to help fund this project.
The new space will include three classrooms, a computer lab, and a food pantry with a teaching kitchen. It will also offer resources and facilities to support health monitoring, education, food security, workforce development, and digital access—addressing several needs within the community.
A new library is cause for celebration! The community will benefit greatly from the groundwork Kayla has laid for generations to come. The grand opening of the new library is slated for sometime this summer.
