Syracuse Public Library held a ribbon cutting for its Community Roots space on Friday, June 2. In the front, from left, are Martha Stoelting, Allyson Ellis, Michelle Parker, Amber Weber, Kim Blaha, Carol Boone, Angie Goralczyk, Megan Daumen and Scarlett Daumen. In the middle Staci York, Jill Howard, Jan Rose, Diana Castell, June Miller, Robert Rensberger, Emilia Layne, Rebekah Sceniak, Sarah Wright and Kathy Young. In the back row are Tom Hoover, Nancy Nelson and Diana Clark. Photo by Lauren Zeugner

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Staff, board members and Friends of the Syracuse Public Library gathered for a ribbon cutting of the library’s outdoor space, named “Community Roots,” Friday morning, June 2.

The event was just part of the festivities as the library was kicking off its summer reading program.

The Community Roots project started in last summer 2021 when the library purchased and tore down an old house located on the south side of the building. The library then received a grant from the US Institute of Museums and Library Services which is administered by the Indiana State Library.

Funds from the grant were used to design and build a pavilion, purchase a large storage shed as well as adult and child sized picnic tables and benches. After a vote from the public, the space was named Community Roots.

“You need outdoor library space, ” Kim Blaha, library director, said. “We don’t have a lot of space inside (the library).”

Sarah Wright, communications specialist for the Syracuse Public Library, explained the space will be used for summer programming through June and July and the library hopes to use it for a variety of programming through October for its Halloween programming.

When the space isn’t being used by the library, the public is welcome to come use the space to hang out. There are rules posted on how the space should be used.

Some of the events the library plans to host include having an outdoor survivalist coming to teach kids to survive in the space. This event will take place from 2-4 p.m. Friday, June 16. “Our Friday programs are super popular, ” Wright said. “Out here we can spread out and not be on top of each other.”

Several “Make It Mondays” will be held in Community roots with the first one being at 2 p.m. Monday, June 5 being doughnuts and art while archery will be June 12.

Fantastic Friday events will be at 10:30 a.m. in the space.  If the weather is inclement, events will move indoors.

Future plans for Community Roots include installing a shrub border or fence to enclose the space and provide some safety for the children who will be using the space. Other plans include looking into the possibility of planting a community garden and a native plant garden.

On the storage barn is a mural honoring those who either donated supplies for the Community Roots space, donated items for the basket auction or were the winning bidders on the basket auction.

The plan is to move the Community Roots space to Dolan Street when the new library is built. ARKOS of Mishawaka designed the space while R. Yoder Construction of Nappanee installed the pavilion. Backyard Barns provided the storage barn and the materials for the pavilion.