Furniture sale to aid library renovation
Published 10:00 am Friday, July 23, 2021
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The LaGrange Memorial Library has been selling a variety of items at its 115 Alford Street location Thursday and Friday, the funds of which will be used to help the library in not only its programs but also in its upcoming construction project.
“Everything we sale is going toward the [Friends of LaGrange Memorial Library] and then the Friends support us in a wide variety of different ways, the least of which is our upcoming construction project,” said Keith Schuermann, Director of Troup-Harris Regional Library, during the library’s first sale on Thursday.
Schuermann reported earlier in June that the library had an estimated $2 million shortfall in its construction fund following a raise in construction materials, ultimately pushing its reopening date at its Park Avenue location to 2022.
The library’s services are currently housed at its temporary location, Unity Elementary School on 525 Park Avenue.
Currently the library is $1.1 million short, but that sum is just a “contingency,” Schuermann said.
“For the actual construction, we’re about $300,000 to $400,000 short,” he said.
“What we’re going to try to do, fingers crossed, is try to raise $300,000 to $400,000 in the next year, which I think we can, and then worry about the [$700,000 to $800,000] in remainder that is dedicated toward [new] furniture.”
The library is selling a host of furniture, including chairs, tables and desks.
So far the library has sold a lot of cabinetry, old round tables and some study carrels, which are useful for virtual learning students, Schuermann said.
An item that has garnered great interest is the library’s old card catalog desk, which as of Thursday was still for sale for $800.
“I’ve had so many inquiries about [the card catalog] but not one person has made me an offer,” Schuermann said.
“On Ebay, I saw one for $960 to $2,600.”
Items that aren’t sold after Friday will be liquidated with the library’s contractor or disposed of, Schuermann said, though some items will be held on to.
Friday’s sale will last from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the LaGrange Memorial Library’s Facebook page for more information for items still available.
The library is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.