Okay, it is time to catch up on my blogs about library visits!  I confess, it has been months, in fact FIVE months since I have visited the Garnet A Wilson Library  (GAW) in Waverly.  However, I can remember it like it was yesterday!  The weather was BEAUTIFUL for a winter day- sunny, and not too cold.  I must admit, I do have a soft spot for this library- I grew up in Waverly!  Yes, I am a Pike County Gal!  When  I was growing up, the public library was a part of the high school library.  It then moved into a little building on North High Street during my junior high school years.  (Okay, I will digress personally and confess that I was a member of the library club in High School, and I did volunteer work with the library moved to its little building).  The current site were the library is used to be the old A & P building.  A & P, for those of you who don’t know, was a popular grocery chain in its day.  I don’t remember it being the A & P, but the “Sundry Store” a place for goodies, and to my happines- records! (Yes, I am dating myself).

Anyway, back to to GAW…  The current location has been nicely remodeled to fit as a library instead of a store!  The first floor houses the circulation desk, adult and teen collections, reference, a dedicated computer area, as well as a nice reading area where the periodicals are housed.  The second floor holds a meeting room and offices.  The lower floor has a large meeting room, the children’s area, which is wonderfully adorned with painting on the walls (and the stairway).  The geneaology room is perfectly located-one wall of it is actually a part of the former Ohio & Erie Canal system that ran through Waverly.

The library is now negotiating to buy some propertly beside Bristol Village  (a retirement community), where one of the former elementary schools existed.  The current location of the library, although convenient for downtown access, has very little parking available and no room for expansion.  The site they are seeking would allow for a larger library, plenty of parking and still be easily accessible for those on foot or bike.

The Waverly branch of GAW is the main branch.  There are also branches located in Beaver, Piketon, and Western Pike County. Stop by at one of their many locations and say “hi” to the friendly staff!!