The new elevator at the Heart of America Library has been installed, and by the end of the month it should be open to the public once other work surrounding the elevator has been completed.

Otis Elevator out of Fargo completed the installation last week, and the two-man team of Charles Thompson and Randy Quaschnick said the average installation takes about six days.

There still needs to be some work done around the perimeter of the elevator door but the elevator is operational.

“I would say probably by the end of April it will be open to the public,” library director Sheila Craun said. “The actually project started at the beginning of October, but they’ve been working on it for years now. The temporary walls will come down. There needs to be more masonry work around the elevator.”

The elevator opens up the basement of the library for a variety of events and opportunities.

“We can use the downstairs for people who want to use the genealogy materials and they can spread out,” she said. “We want to offer more access to people and bring in more community events where we can use both levels.”

Craun said the Lions Club’s Tables Envisioned and the Summer Reading Programs are two such events.

There will also be a bathroom added downstairs and new carpet, according to Craun.

She is happy to see the project nearly complete so that the library can go back to its traditional peaceful setting.

“We thank the community with all of their patience for putting up with the noise and the lack of parking,” she said. “No one has complained and that’s been good for us too. We can work unimpeded.”

Craun thanked the community for support of the project, as well as Amy Bryn and Toni Stevenson for getting the project off the ground and seeing it to its completion.