EMMONS &045; The old school building has sat empty all summer. Its halls are dark. Much of its equipment has been moved to Glenville. But a little more than a month ago, a group of people began to renovate the school’s library.

Their plan: to build a community library.

&uot;It was a mess,&uot; said Wendy Bidne, who is spearheading the project. &uot;A huge mess.&uot;

The Glenville-Emmons librarian had taken all the books she thought belonged in the Glenville Elementary library. Still, the shelves are stocked with classic books, such as Shakespeare’s complete works.

Bidne and several other Emmons residents decided to pursue the library project after Glenville-Emmons Superintendent Dave Olson mentioned the idea.

Bidne, a moter and a senior at Buena Vista University finishing up an education degree, took on the responsibility of organizing and starting the library.

&uot;Our senior year we have to take on a service project,&uot; Bidne explained. &uot;So I helped create the committee and now we are underway.&uot;

Thursday afternoon, Bidne and Arvilla Clemmetson, another library volunteer, were putting books on the shelves of the library. They had finished dusting and cleaning all the surfaces.

&uot;It’s been a lot of work,&uot; Clemmetson said about the project. &uot;But it’s been fun.&uot;

She added that due to the tough year the district and community have been through, the project focuses attention on something good.

&uot;It brings us together to work toward something as a community,&uot; she said. &uot;I think that’s very important.&uot;

The building the library is in was closed last spring after a long debate about to shuttering a building in the district. The district is under contract to pay for and maintain the building for the next two years.

The city of Emmons is also footing some of the bill, and has the first shot at buying the building when the district’s two years are up.

Bidne hopes the building can grow as a community center. She said the building represents a long history for the community, something the town needs to have.

The library should be open by Oct. 1. Bidne said it will be open during the mornings and night on Tuesday and Thursday, and in the morning Saturday. The building will be run by volunteers, and she said she is still looking for help.

They are also looking for books, computers and a system for keeping track of books. Donations can be made by calling Wendy Bidne at 852-3131 or by sending checks or cash to 479 Main St. Emmons, MN, 56029.

(Contact Peter Cox at peter.cox@albertleatribune.com or 379-3439.)