These new bookshelves bear plates honoring those whose contributions helped pay for them.

The Tyler County Public Library in Middlebourne will be holding an open house on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to officially celebrate its new section dedicated to fiction and nonfiction books.

The event will also be honoring those who assisted the library in realizing the completion of this new addition.

At 1 p.m., a dedication will take place and plaques will be unveiled to honor those who donated or helped to get the new section started.

There are four plaques in all. One honors the diligent efforts of the following individuals in making the expansion possible: Library Director Rosanne Eastham, Board President Carol Ann Kucharski, and Board Members Dr. Ralph Boone, Gayla Fisher, Margie Rymer, Karen Smith, and Larry Thomas. Another dedicates the new addition to Ruth Stealey Green and Hallie Swan Haught; Green’s estate established the fund that gave a grant to the project while Haught originally donated the property for the library to Middlebourne in 1966. The final two plaques are dedicated respectively to Peoples Bank, for funding the new computer section, and Union Bank, for funding the new reading area.

Barb Slider of Usborne Books will be present at the open house and selling children’s books. Those who purchase the books can either keep them or donate them to the library. All proceeds from sales will then go to the library.

Local artists MaryLynn and Jim Hileman provided this stained glass window.

According to Librarian Rosanne Eastham, the entire library has undergone changes. Shelves are being painted for the children’s section now in the original portion of the library, patrons and volunteers have helped paint walls, and the bathroom has been redone. Also, in the space connecting the old section with the new section, a stained glass window was donated by local artists MaryLynn and Jim Hileman.

Eastham expressed her gratitude for the community at large.

“We would like to thank all the patrons and the community for supporting the library,” she said. “Without their help and the Ruth Stealey Green Grant from the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley, the new addition would not have been possible.”

She said that she would also like to offer new programs. Those potential programs would comprise: knitting and crocheting, quilting, computers and tablets, story hour, “Mommy and Me” for mothers and babies, scrapbooking, card-making, and possible Work Force programs. If anyone is interested in taking or teaching such classes, they can reach the library at 304-758-4304.

Construction on the expansion wrapped up earlier this year and was made possible in part by a grant from the Stealey Green Foundation, which was created by deceased siblings Retired School Teacher Ruth Stealey Green and her brother Philip Stealey. Under Green’s wishes, special consideration is given to projects that will improve the quality of life for residents of Middlebourne when grant awards are being made.

The grant covered $250,000 of the $351,000 needed to complete the project. Former local rockers, The Secrets, contributed nearly $10,000 following a fund-raising reunion concert in 2011. The rest of the money was earned through fund-raising events such as bake sales and raffles. Although the project is close to completion, fund-raisers such as raffles will continue to meet certain goals.

“We’re still trying to raise money to brick the front outside walls so it looks like the original picture we had done,” she said, indicating the architect’s rendering now inside the library. “The bricks are $2 a piece.”

For purchasing a brick, citizens can have their names featured on a plaque, making them a lasting part of the library.

Donations for chairs came from: Nancy Glover, in memory of Forrest R. Glover; Karen Smith, in memory of Russell and Virginia Wetzel; Al and Julia Bolin, in memory of Jim and Julia Ford and Arvid and Rozella Bolin; and Jack and Roberta Starcher.

Donations for bookshelves came from: the Calico Girls; Rich and Barb Thomaselli; Martha Peters; June Griffin; Catherine Bennett, Lynn and Mildred Caseman, Hilda Davies, and Larry and Anita Prunty, in memory of Ruth “Polly” Caseman; Earl Eastham; Carol Jackson; Frederick M. Rohrig; Betty Rymer; and Willie G. Sprouse.

Donations for double bookshelves came from: Gary Rymer, in memory of Guy L. and Betty L. Rymer; Carl, Carol Ann, Joshua, and Vera Kucharski and Harold and Leann Mester, in memory of Harry and Elenora Monigold and Walt and Mary Kucharski; Mark, Beverly, and Ryan Ricketts; Chris Hoke; George and Ardele Post; Tom and Carolyn Williams; Sistersville Elks Lodge #333; Middlebourne Baptist Church; PPG; Chesapeake Energy; EQT; and James R. Baker; Gloria Lowther; and Stone Energy.

Donations for tables came from: the Alma Senior Citizens.

Donations for the sidewalk came from: David, Kelly, Jacob and Spencer Haught in memory of Judith K. Haught; and Margery K. Schindler.

Other anonymous donations were made and used to pay for furniture and materials. Eastham also noted the work of Senator Larry Edgell and Senator Jeff Kessler in attaining state funds for the project.

Regular library hours are: Mondays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.