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Community

New Building & New Name for Library in Aledo

Edwards River Public Library

The public library in Aledo has moved into a new building and now has a new name. As of Friday, what was the Mercer Carnegie Public Library has moved four blocks and re-opened as the Edwards River Public Library.

Director Catherine Worsley says the old library was more than 100 years old - it opened in 1916.

"Not handicapped accessible, it's on two floors, it has lots of narrow hallways and stairways, very old plumbing - it's just kind of worn out. So it was time to move on and get a modern facility that we could make handicapped accessible and have room for our collection."

And besides, the library didn't own it. 

The new building has modern space, modern shelving and equipment, and modern furniture, plus plenty of room for patrons and staff.

Worsley says the library board decided to drop "Carnegie" from the name because it's no longer in a Carnegie building.

"They wanted to choose a name that reflected our entire library district's geographical area. And the Edwards River is a geographical landmark that runs through both townships that we cover in Mercer County."

The cost of the new library is one million dollars, with the money coming from savings, borrowing, grants, and local fundraising.

A grand opening celebration will be held Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm, then next week Worsley will retire after 15 years as director, and turn it over to Courtney Wright. 

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.