In less than a year, the community of Sundown will be able to enjoy their new library following its grand opening this Thursday.
The grand opening is slated for Thursday beginning at 9:15 a.m. located at 201 E. Fifth.
Spearheaded by Sundown Library Director A’ndrea McAdams, the new library facility will be providing several resources for the community of Sundown to utilize and enjoy. Ranging from public access to computers, a children’s area, a meeting area and e-sports area, McAdams set out with a goal to create a safe space for any child or adult to enjoy.
During the fall of 2018, Sundown Mayor Jonathan Strickland supported McAdams, Linda Canon and Carolyn Mason as volunteers of the library. While in the prior building, the library was very limited in the amount of space that could be offered to the general public. By December of 2019, the City of Sundown passed a resolution making the Sundown Library a city department.
When COVID-19 became an issue, McAdams approached Sundown ISD regarding the building that would become the new library. A former church building that required a muchneeded overhaul, McAdams approached the school district in hopes of occupying the space.
After developing a healthy relationship between Sundown ISD after utilizing their facilities for different programs, the district agreed to rent or lease the space. McAdams and her small staff moved into the church and rearranged much of the furniture to make use of the space; however, she felt the building was a diamond in the rough waiting to be polished.
“We basically used it for a couple of summers and then I approached the school board and said we really need this facility to be in our name,” said McAdams. “The school was very gracious to allow us to purchase the building.”
When COVID-19 hit that changed everything for the staff, but they used the space that summer and that’s when it really solidified in McAdams mind they needed the space.
“Most people thought that after we kind of gutted it that we were going to put it all back together the way it was, but I had already been working with the Tocker Foundation for furniture and they encouraged us to make it better,” explained McAdams. Up until 2022 the staff went about their normal business in the new building until they found the funding to get the building abated.
“I really started thinking we can really do this in 2023,” explained McAdams. “In January 2023 was when it was all empty and it was like ok, now what? We need some blueprints; we need some vision boards and we need construction people.”
It was the strong conviction for McAdams that allowed her to continue to search for funding to finish the overall haul of the building for the library. Dealing with being told she was not eligible for the funding became a common occurrence for her but continued to search for other avenues of funding. Overall, the funding for the renovations totaled $750,000.
“There were times where I did not sleep because I was unsure how we were going to finish the renovations of the building,” explained McAdams. “I would think we were going to be stuck with a building torn down to the studs and have to move on because we could not find anybody who shared the same dream of seeing this building come to fruition for the community.”
In passing conversation, many who have seen the newly renovated building did not come close to thinking that was how the building would turnout. McAdams explained that there were many who thought the building was beyond saving, but that did not slow her down in her pursuit of making the library be an inviting space.
As Mrs. Canon has passed, McAdams and Mrs. Mason continue to work together to provide a welcoming space for the community. People who will visit the library will find a section dedicated to Texas with a nameplate honoring Mrs. Canon, as well as one dedicated to Mrs. Mason.
“When volunteered to join the library, I was brought in to simply modernize things and working with Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Canon has been amazing,” said McAdams. “People who will visit the library will find a section dedicated to Texas with a nameplate honoring Mrs. Canon.”
For McAdams a small community such as Sundown means a lot to her and her family. McAdams explained that there are a lot of references to small towns drying up and she simply wanted to provide her community with something they would be proud of and enjoy moving forward.
For the community, it has been all hands on deck as students from Sundown ISD have assisted in moving books from the old building to the new one and lending a hand getting things organized. During past discussions, McAdams has numerous conversations about how excited community members are about the new library.
“I cannot put into words how proud I am for A’ndrea and the dream she has built. With the help of Carolyn Mason, she has been a rockstar,” said Mayor Strickland. “Not everyone shared understanding of her vision early on, but I knew we just needed to step aside and let her work. Her brilliance has brought us a beautiful hub for our community. Children and adults will have somewhere to enjoy literature in a fun, roomy, wonderful place. Knowing she is in charge of our library makes me very excited for what is to come! Thank you so much A’ndrea!”