A new paved sidewalk and outdoor area behind the Webb Shadle Memorial Library in Pleasantville will make it more accessible to persons with disabilities; and that’s just the first phase of a project to bring accessibility to the building.

A number of grants and private donations have made the construction possible; and its importance has become clear, as more patrons are using the library — including two persons in wheelchairs who tried to get in a while ago, but were unable to do so.

Julie Cowden from the Friends of the Webb Shadle Memorial Library tells KNIA/KRLS News the upgrading will change that, and make their facilities available to all users.

“We’re widening that sidewalk so actually two people can pass on a wheelchair if need be; we’re putting in one slab of pavement and putting a handicapped door, so you can just push a button and the door will open,” Cowden says.

The next step will involve making the restrooms handicap-accessible; Cowden notes the library is one of the few not affiliated with the state library system, so it is almost entirely dependent on donations. But she says contributions and lots of hard work over the past two years, have vastly improved the library and made it popular for residents to use.