By By Lee Weyhrich
The Atmore Public Library is slowly but surely coming together after Hurricane Ivan destroyed the roof and threw a tree into the building.
Brick-work has been replaced as well as several hundred ceiling tiles and the roof. Books are still in boxes, the circulation desk on the second floor has been thrown away due to mold, and according to library director Joyce Bolden, there is still several months of work left to do.
"Hines construction came in and did a lot of the repairs," Kathy McKinley, a librarian said. "They've replaced the ceiling tiles and put on a new roof, but they haven't put all the flashing on."
A few of the ceiling tiles will likely have to be replaced once the new flashing is installed.
A major focus now is the interior of the building.
"Masland Carpets is making the carpet right now and it may be installed as early as the first of April," McKinley said.
According to a representative at Masland the carpet is being custom-made for the library.
Masland is currently producing the carpet for the Atmore Public Library.
"We have a section that does pre-installs for complicated installations," Plant Leader Mike Whitener said. "They presize everything together so it fits into place."
Maslan pre-sizes and pre-shapes the carpet for unusually shaped buildings.
Bolden said that when Masland returns they will bring the numbered pieces of carpet and assemble them in the order they are to be installed.
Dry Wall has already been replaced and some areas have already been painted.
"They're hanging wallpaper now," McKinley said.
C.W. Smith Decorating of Montgomery has handled the interior repairs and Ronnie Martin, an employee of that company, is hanging all the wallpaper.
"I'll have most of it (the wallpapering) done next week," Martin said. "We did all the sheet-rocking, painting and wallpaper."
Bolden has been very happy with the results of the two companies' efforts.
"They've done such a good job with everything," Bolden said. " They clean up so well behind themselves."
Unfortunately there is still a lot of clean up to be done even after the repairs have been made as books are unpacked, reorganized and replaced.
No time has yet been set for a reopening but Bolden guarantees that the reopening will be a grand affair.