New-look library celebrated

It was a bit breezy March 31 morning after the previous night’s rain, but that didn’t stop nearly 200 people, along with numerous state and local officials, from attending the dedication ceremonies and ribbon-cutting for the newly expanded and renovated Madison County Library.

It was a morning of celebration and a day to thank and remember those, past and present, who helped make the project come to fruition.

Board of commission chairman Anthony Dove welcomed the crowd and spoke of his first memories of the library, then located in the basement of the multi-purpose building, and run by the capable hands of Jennie Ruth Echols, long-time branch manager of the library, who oversaw its growth from one room to its current location on Hwy. 98 West. Dove also recognized state insurance commissioner and former senator Ralph Hudgens, who he said had a “huge part” in securing the funding for the renovations. Madison County was one of only two library projects in the state that were funded last year.

“These are the things that last and have value – education and a public library, ” State representative Alan Powell told the audience.

“This is the nicest, best laid out library I’ve seen in a long time,” State representative Tom McCall said. “It’s a fine example of how people in a small town can come together.”