This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Iowa Regional Library System. This system is a partnership among local libraries, regional libraries and the State Library of Iowa to provide library services throughout the state.

The Kansas Library Association is preparing for its 100th anniversary in the year 2000 with the formation of an ad hoc Centennial Committee that will promote and come up with ideas for celebrating.

New Libraries

• Utah -- The $3 million, 19,000-square-foot Bingham Creek Library, the 18th library in the Salt Lake County library system, opened for business on July 6 and celebrated with a grand opening July 11. The Spanish Fork Library is remodeling. It just expanded its children's library, located downstairs in the existing library, and next plans to remodel the upstairs portion of the library adding almost 1,000 square feet of book space. Wayne County has graduated from a bookmobile to a fixed-site library after Wayne School District donated a building in Bicknell. Morgan County dedicated its new $1.7 million library July 22 with a ribbon cutting, children's procession, color guard and speeches. The new library has four times the square footage of its predecessor.

• Kansas -- Hutchinson Public Library celebrated the opening of its newly remodeled Children's Library in May, along with the dedication of the new Max and Elizabeth Ontjes Children's Learning Center. Newton Public Library celebrated the renovation of its facility during a nine-day grand opening series of events. Manhattan Public Library dedicated its new facility with a brief ceremony June 7. Pittsburg Public Library dedicated the renovation and expansion of its facility June 12 .

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