Students peeking out from behind new books in the overhauled and re-organized Seneca School library are, from left, Brynlie Koppel, Caden Ballou, Layla Wenick, Allyson Moore, Kynlee Pettyjohn, Buster Harmon, Cajsa Jo Timko, Layla Latchaw, Macy Carter, Bridger Walker and Zerina Noel.

SENECA – The newly reorganized Seneca School Library is now open to the public.

A grand opening of the Seneca Community Library will be from 3-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at the school. People are encouraged to stop buy, check out the changes and get a library card. Refreshments will be served.

The project was sparked in 2013 by the donation of over 500 hardcover books by Linda Pynes from the personal collection of her late husband Phil, who lived in Seneca and attended school there as a child.

According to school staff, Linda told them her late husband and his siblings spoke fondly of their time in Seneca. When faced with the task of sorting through his belongings, she decided an appropriate way to honor his memory would be to give back to the small community that had meant so much to him.

Current and former staff members set out on the task of weeding through and overhauling the school library and its materials, to make room for the new collection.

MaryEcho Kuhl joined the staff in January 2014, and began cataloging and shelving the collection, in addition to her instructional aide duties.

The result is a library that now houses a community collection open to the public, along with nonfiction, reference and fiction for younger readers.

Calendar copies of dates and times for the library’s open hours will be available at the grand opening.