New Library Progress, ENCAP to Purchase Building

One of the bigger stories in the Bellevue community this year has been the impending move of the Bellevue Public Library to a new location on Longo Drive. The library staff and the city of Bellevue plan to start the transition to the new building this fall.

City Administrator Jim Ristow said they are currently working with Leo A Daly on design plans as well as ordering new shelving. “We will need to remove and sell the interior furniture left by the prior tenant. Then the floor plan, as proposed by Leo Daly, will begin construction with a timeline to finish in late fall.”

They have not yet set a projected date the new library will open due to

The soon-to-be-former library building will not be vacant for long. In what could quite possibly be the best case / best use for the facility, the Bellevue City Council has approved the sale of the building to ENCAP (Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership) for $500,000. The former library will serve as the new location for the Bellevue Food Pantry. Interestingly enough, it’s not the first time the Bellevue Food Pantry has moved into a former Bellevue Library location as their current location on the east side of Washington Park was the home of the library before it moved to its current location in 1975.

ENCAP Deputy Director Jill Connor said that everyone at ENCAP is excited about the move to this new, better-equipped space. “We will be able to offer more comprehensive food options, including frozen and perishable items. This larger space will allow us to significantly increase the space for the storage of food items, via walk-in coolers and freezers – which will allow us to accept bulk orders and donations.”

Other benefits of the new space include developing community garden plots, enhancing food delivery services, providing a central check-in area and private spaces for individual meetings, and offering community meeting space for local organizations and civic groups.