Another old building is on the chopping block

The Bemidji City Council is planning on redoing the Library park.  It is a three year project.  But on October 19th an article in the Pioneer announced that the Bemidji's Carnegie Library could be torn down  or moved to fit their plans.  There has been much discussion, both real and virtual (facebook).  Today in the paper I learned something about the Carnegie Libraries. There was an editorial by Dr. Annie B. Henry(a professor at Bemidji State University) explaining how she as a black child in the 50's could not enter a library.   Mr. Carnegie attempted to minimize discrimination and racism by offering to build and put reading materials into Carnegie libraries in any city that agreed to his main requirement:  the Carnegie libraries had to be accessible and used by all Americans.  After that article's appearance tearing down a building that is steeped in that much American history might be more difficult.

Some of the buildings problems is that it has an entrance facing one of the busiest streets in Bemidji.  Another it needs an elevator and handicapped accessibility.  All are fixable.  Our church sealed up our front door entrance with a beautiful stained glass mural.  A  flower box sits where the front steps used to be.  Move the entrance to the back of the building.  I see opportunity for the vo-tech and BSU students to design a mural for the front door area.  Make it a contest. It is presently being used as the fine art center.   One could tap into that talent.  Also, they could use the arch saved from the high school as part of the designed entrance in the back.  I see beauty in the old, where as some people just see old.

 I will be truly saddened if tearing down this building does come to fruition.  I learned my love of reading and eventually my love of the written word from checking out books weekly from that very library.  I have already lost my high school building.  Now this??