The events of Aug. 12 at the Eagle River Town Center better resembled a party than a quiet evening in the local library, and local librarian Mary Williams would have had it no other way, as the community gathered for the re-opening of the Chugiak-Eagle River branch library.

Star Photo By DARRELL L. BREESE Rep. Anna Fairclough cuts the ribbon around a checkout desk, making the opening of the new Chugiak-Eagle River branch library official.

"This joint is jumping," Anchorage Library Director Karen Keller said as she began the official ribbon cutting ceremony, "It's so much fun and so exciting to see so many children and adults come out for this grand event."

Keller and Williams were joined by mayor Dan Sullivan, Sen. Fred Dyson, Reps. Anna Fairclough, Bill Stoltze and John Harris, Assemblywoman Debbie Ossiander, other dignitaries and countless local residents for the opening of the library.

Among the speakers was Joe Perkins, chairman of the Anchorage Library Foundation, who expressed his pride in being a part of making the new library happen.

"I am very envious," he said. "I live in Sand Lake and we don't have a community branch library. All of you should be honored to have such a beautiful facility in your community."

In addition to the cutting of the ribbon, the event was marked by the reading of a proclamation from the State Legislature honoring the founder of Eagle River's first library Billie Moore.

"We've come a long way from where the library started," Williams said. "Back then it was a mere 320 square feet of space donated by the local Lions Club and today we have more than 18,000 square feet."

Many library enthusiasts also marveled at the new space as they wandered the aisles, used the new computer lab and sat comfortably while reading to their children.

"This is a wonderful and refreshing change," said Kelly Hopkins. "It actually looks and feels like a real library instead of an old grocery store. They did a really nice job remodeling this space."

Hopkins referred to the Safeway store that was the previous occupant of the space that is now home to the library and the Eagle River Town Center.

"It is 6,000 square feet bigger than the library that we were in before the move," Williams said.

Sullivan stressed the importance of having the library in the Chugiak-Eagle River area.

"This library helps anchor the Town Center, that has been a dream of many locals for many years," he said. "After tonight the people of Chugiak and Eagle River can say that they have a wonderful town center with the library at the heart of it."

Major funding for the new library was provided by contributions from the Rasmuson Foundation, the state of Alaska, BP, the Chugiak-Eagle River Foundation and Friends of the Library.

The Chugiak-Eagle River Branch Library is open Tuesday to Thursday between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Reach the reporter at darrell.breese.@alaskastar.com.