The new interior walls that separate the children’s area from the rest of the Great Bend Public Library are something librarians have requested for years, GBPL Director Harry Willems said. The project always appeared to be too expensive, before now.
“We talked about a $2,500 accordion door,” he said at last month’s Library Board meeting. What was done instead will only cost in the neighborhood of $300, and is better suited to the library’s needs, he said.
Fred Hernandez, the building and grounds supervisor, set up drywall and used a piece of Plexiglas from another project for a large window. Eventually, he will hang two inexpensive doors that can be closed when activities are going on.
Children’s Librarian Dayna Ball said the walls give young children a “room of their own” in the library. The Teen Spot serves a similar purpose for students in grades 7-12.
“The wall is going to be a great noise absorber,” Ball said. “It will give the kids a little more freedom to express themselves.” The doors can be closed during programs such as Story Time or Baby and Me.
 It’s still easy to keep an eye on children through the window, and the person working at the front desk has a good view of what is going on.

Movies and more
The library is showing free children’s movies every Friday and teen movies every Monday in October, GBPL spokesman Diedre Mapes said.
Children’s movies will be shown at 4 p.m. on the following dates: Oct. 9 - Fluke; Oct. 16 - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2; Oct. 23 - A princess falls in love with an English colonist in the 17th century; and Oct. 30 - Hocus Pocus.
There will also be a Halloween party in conjunction with the movie on Oct. 30.
Teen movies will be shown at 4 p.m. on these dates: Oct. 12 - Coraline; Oct. 19 - Monster House; and Oct. 26 - The Witches.
The library and Great Bend Kiwanis are continuing a costume drive, asking for new or gently used costumes to be donated.
Costumes can be dropped off at the library children’s section.
“This will culminate in our fourth annual costume day on Saturday, Oct. 17th (1-3 p.m.) where children and their guardians can come in to find one free costume per child,” Mapes said. “In addition to picking out a costume, children will be able to color a Halloween picture and enjoy cookies and punch.
“We continue accepting donations even after the holiday for your ease of dropping off any costumes your family is finished with,” she added. Costumes will be accepted until Nov. 9.