Former fire department will be transformed into Iva Library, project to cost $1.2 million

The former Iva Fire Department will soon become a new library branch, which officials hope will bring more people downtown.

In partnership with the Town of Iva, the Anderson County Library received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to redevelop the old Iva Fire Department located on East Front Street.

For the project, $200,000 was raised through community development projects, in addition to the proceeds from the sale of the former library, totaling about $1.2 million, with no cost to taxpayers.

Renovation work for the project was initially planned to start in the summer of 2023. "The project was delayed due to the time it took to obtain environmental tests and results for potential contaminants in the system," Town Clerk Tim Taylor said.

Construction is expected to start this month and will take about 11 months to complete.

The new library on East Front Street

The new location will be a state-of-the-art facility with large public tables and couches for comfort in a collaborative meeting space with "the most rigorous ADA accessibility standards," according to officials.

On the backside of the library, on Antique Drive, there will be handicap accessibility and parking.

"By adding murals and paintings here, we want to create an atmosphere similar to the library's storefront," Taylor said about the backside of the library.

With its new, modern, up-to-date design, the new Iva County library will allow individuals to do research, work remotely, read books, access computers, or enjoy the atmosphere downtown.

"We want this library to help us create foot traffic on Main Street, fill up some of these restaurants, and occupy some of the empty buildings," Taylor said. "Our hope is that the library will be so busy that investors will take notice of our area and decide to invest in Main Street."

East Front Street: Old Iva Fire Department

The storefront on East Church Street used to serve as the Iva Fire Department.

"It was donated to the town decades ago by a prominent family who wanted to see the building repurposed as a fire department or a building for municipal services," Taylor said.

The building was home to the Iva Fire Department for about 20 years until they moved to their new location at 9711 Highway 81 South.

Testing all the environmental assessments for the building required three or four different phases due to the presence of fire trucks and the possibility of contaminants.

Every time a test is conducted, it takes 30 days to receive the results, followed by another 30 days to generate a report. "The building passed all the required tests," Taylor said.

The building was also used for Antique Body Shop, a center for senior adults with opportunities for leisure and recreational activities and a place of fellowship.

"Their exercise equipment is still in the building," Taylor said, adding that it was one of the hold-ups to start construction. "We have to get the building cleaned out completely."

Using the former fire station is seen as a benefit to the community.

“The development of the new library branch in the facility will ensure that the old fire station continues to serve as a community benefit,” said Iva Mayor Bobby Gentry. “The project enhances our ongoing efforts to revitalize our town square and offer area residents a wide array of services and activities.”

Where is the IVA Library located?

The Iva Library is currently located at 106 East Broad Street. This will be its temporary location until renovation on East Front Street is complete.

"We had to relocate the library here when Anderson District Three bought the former location at 203 W. Cruette St.," Taylor said.

Visitors can find various books, magazines, and newspapers at the temporary location of the Iva Library. It also offers computer access, Wi-Fi, and a quiet space for studying or reading.

"We chose this location because it already displays major components of Iva's history," Taylor said.

What happened to former Iva library location?

The former Iva Branch of the Anderson County Library, located at 203 W. Cruette St., is now being used as the Anderson School District Three Administration building.

"Repurposing the old library building preserves a community asset and gives it a new purpose," Taylor said.

This building now serves as headquarters for administrative tasks, financial planning, record keeping and billing, and personnel matters involving District Three.

What will happen to Iva Museum?

Once the library moves to its permanent location on East Front Street, the building will continue to serve as the Town of Iva Museum.

The storefront on the museum on Jackson Street was initially used as a bank in the early 1900s, then as a post office until the 1960s, and later purchased by the People's Bank of Iva.

Among the most interesting exhibits inside the museum are Sorenson's Arrowhead Collection, Suttles-Williams Rock and Gem Collection, and photos from the past in Iva.

Just a short walk across the street will be the new state-of-the-art library.

"These kinds of projects will make people feel good because they will revitalize nice old buildings that are essential to Iva's history," Taylor said.

Anderson County Library: Iva Branch

In addition to revitalizing downtown Iva, the project will also support the Anderson County Library System's efforts to provide upgraded facilities that better cater to its customers' current needs.

The Anderson County Library System includes the Main Library in Anderson, the Iva Branch, seven other branches, and a bookmobile.

They are governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, which the County Council appoints.

The library system has over 300,000 books, DVDs, audiobooks, and CDs and, as a member of the SCLends consortium, access to over 3.5 million items.

Iva's newly redeveloped library will not be the traditional library where you walk in and see a bunch of shelves with books.

"Instead, it will be an open space concept with a tall ceiling and vibrant colors that invite a fresh feel to the library," Taylor said.

“In the digital age, the public library is called upon to serve as much more than a repository for books,” said Julie Hart, chair of the Anderson County Library Board. “The new Iva branch library will serve as a ‘community commons’ and provide a variety of multimedia tools for people who want to explore alternative modes of accessing information.

"Our local libraries can and should function as vibrant hubs of activity and prominent social centers in their communities," Hart said.

Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.