In my opinion, the most beautiful and important part of any building is its library. At the Nauvoo Discovery Program, we had the unique opportunity to build a library from the ground up. We began with an unadorned room with a small black bookshelf and a handful of donated books. (From my own personal library).
But it was a fast-growing project from there. We removed the large chalkboard (and moved it across the hall), sanded and restained the baseboards, and made sure the walls were uniformly painted. We then started a book drive, and donations came pouring in. Some books were better quality than others, and we carefully vetted our collection to make sure our library was full of good books. The books were wonderful gifts, and gratefully received by the library.
We built shelves, applied decorative film to the windows, and even upholstered chairs!
I really wanted this space to be comfortable, and elegant, as well as honor the German Lutheran heritage of the building. We even visited the Nauvoo Marketplace and got some really neat decorative nick-nacks to elevate the space.
All in all, the whole room took almost a whole semester to complete, and even now, there’s always more room for quality books!
I’d like to extend the bookshelves to the ceiling and add some Gothic paneling to make them look built-in. But for now, we’ve finished the library off with some elegant hardware, some beautiful and historic artwork, and a rug and desk. The library is a space for Nauvoo Discovery Program students to study, read, and expand their horizons.
In my less-than-humble opinion:
It is the crowning jewel of our student center.
Significant donors include Kay Young, Richard Torgerson, Sandra Uhler, and our friends at the Nauvoo Mercantile, as well as the unnamed donors around Nauvoo who helped make this dream a reality. To them, we extend our gratitude.
Visit our website to learn more about The Nauvoo Discovery Program for YSA 18-30.
A building without a library is like a body without a soul.