Hineston Branch Library

2008-07-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

Grand Opening Day, Sunday, July 20, 2008.

Hineston clerk Jeanette Hayward opens the door for our guests.

Visitors stream in.

Quite a crowd!

Library Board President Danny George begins our program

Hineston customer Marissa Dees entertains.

Director Steve Rogge presents a plaque in memory of former Branch Manager Judy Brown.

Police Jury President Richard Billings comments on our new space.

Branch Manager Donna Crawford greets our guests in the foyer of our new building.

The sign has been installed. Now you can tell we are a library from the highway!

2008-07-09T06:14:00.000-07:00

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We are moved in, furnished and ready for customers! Thanks, Rapides Parish Voters!

2008-07-03T08:04:00.001-07:00

Hineston Branch Manager Donna Crawford; tired but happy!

2008-06-05T06:23:00.000-07:00

Hineston Clerk Jeanette Hayward putting items on our new shelves.

2008-06-05T06:22:00.001-07:00

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Moving Day for Hineston Branch, June 02, 2008

2008-06-05T06:19:00.001-07:00

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Bookshelves are going in at the Hineston branch!

2008-05-27T07:01:00.001-07:00

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2008-05-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

The asphalt parking lot has been installed.(Click Image to enlarge)

Nearly Complete!

2008-04-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

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The new Hineston Branch on 03-26-2008

Interior and AC installation

2008-02-04T12:24:00.001-08:00

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01-25-2008 Walls and roof

2008-02-01T12:47:00.000-08:00

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12-21-2007 Work Continues

2008-02-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

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Frame Work Goes Up

2007-12-18T10:13:00.000-08:00

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Construction Begins

2007-11-23T11:15:00.001-08:00

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Footings and Plumbing

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Clearing the Land

2007-10-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

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Crushed rock and new utility lines.
The row of parking nearest the building will be paved.

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Groundbreaking Ceremony

2007-09-17T13:21:00.001-07:00

Hineston Groundbreaking Audience

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Library Director Steve Rogge, State Library Consultant Danny Gillane, Library Board President Danny George, Police Juror Richard Billings, and Hineston Branch Manager Donna Crawford

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Hineston Branch Manager Donna Crawford

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Timeline for Hineston Building Project

2007-08-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

June 22, 2007 (Friday) – first of three ads appear in The Town Talk announcing the two projects for bidding by contractors.

July 17, 2007 (Tuesday) – 10:00 Bid Opening. Extended to July 31, 10:00 a.m.

July 31, 2007 (Tuesday) – Since bids came in somewhat higher than expected, the Board postponed a decision until August 21st, pending work with the winning contractor, Tudor, Inc., to find ways to lower costs.

August 21, 2007 (Tuesday) - Board accepted re-worked specifications and budget plan. The only major change was cutting to ten the number of paved parking spaces.

September 4, 2007 (Tuesday) – Board recommendations on winning bids are presented to the Police Jury at their committee meeting.

September 10, 2007 (Monday) – Police Jury acts to accept contractors for the two projects.

September 11, 2007 (Tuesday) - Groundbreaking ceremony 11:00 a.m.

September 15, 2007 (approx.) - Begin construction in Hineston.

Move in approximately late February/March, 2008!

Construction blog for the new Hineston Branch Library

2007-02-28T14:31:00.000-08:00

In January 2005 the Alexandria Town Talk carried a story about plans to close down the Fair Oaks Nursing Home in Hineston. Owner Teddy Price was approached about donating the facility to the Rapides Parish Library, and generously agreed to do so.

The acquisition of this property was a significant step in the Library’s long quest to develop a better home for the Hineston Branch Library. The current branch was a double-wide mobile home that had previously been a headquarters facility for the State Police. It was donated to the Library, remodeled, and opened as a library in 1984. It has served the Hineston community well for over twenty years, but has gradually begun to show its age.

The faithful branch staff, currently Branch Manager Donna Crawford and her assistant Betty Bass, and going back to Branch Manager Judy Brown, have performed miracles of service in the crowded space. It is a mainstay of the Hineston community for students, senior citizens, and many in between.

The Library accepted the gift of the nursing home property in the faith that somehow it could be used to improve Hineston Branch’s size and features. As the 1836 square foot branch was compared to the 11,000 square foot nursing home, it was clear that that much space wouldn’t be needed. For several months an effort was made to find another governmental agency or non-profit that would want to share space. That effort failed. It took about a year for the all the paperwork to be completed so that the property was officially transferred to the Parish. By then the Library realized that no improvements could be made without a better tax base. After the successful tax campaign to prevent deficits and improve facilities, more serious planning could at last begin. The decision was made to build a new building rather than renovate the nursing home. The cost for an all new building wasn’t a lot more than the cost of renovations, and will give a more functional floor plan and greater energy efficiency.

The new Hineston Branch will be built on the higher ground on the southern end of the nursing home property, the former staff parking area. In August, the Library auctioned off the nursing home building and approximately 2/3 of the land to Mr. Huey Bonnette. The Library retained enough land for current and possible future needs.

On February 21st the Library Board of Control approved preliminary drawings from architect Bill Tudor for the two new branches. These 4000 square foot facilities feature community rooms for both general public meetings and for library programming, and room to grow for collections and services.

Front view of the site for the Hineston Branch Library

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Rear view of the site for the Hineston Branch Library

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Floor Plans

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