Library celebrates completion of roof work on Ware addition

A clerestory has replaced the 1986 skylight in the Ilene Ware addition to the Hannibal Free Public Library. An open house, celebrating the completion of the project, was held on Friday, October. 24, 2025. Contributed photo

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

The three-story Ilene Ware addition to the Hannibal Free Public Library was completed in September 1986, and almost from the beginning, there were problems with the roof.

The skylight feature allowed in harsh lighting that in turn faded the carpet.

And in recent years, buckets have become a focal point of the building’s interior decor, not for aesthetics, but for practicality purposes.

Simply put: The roof leaked.

On Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, the library’s board members and staff invited the public in to celebrate the completion of a construction project that not only maintains the desirable natural light atmosphere of the library wing, but also corrects the long-existing water issue.

Architechnics Inc., of Quincy, Ill., designed a new clerestory to replace the previous skylight.

Bleigh Construction Company spearheaded the roof reconstruction project, subcontracting work in order to correct existing problems along the way.

“They fixed the drainage issues; the downspouts were falling off the building,” said Caitlin Greathouse, library director.

The old skylight was lifted off of the building, and a new pre-built structure was lifted into place.

“We only had to close a total of three or four days during the whole process,” Greathouse said, “for safety reasons.”

Now that construction work is complete, the long-stained interior ceiling tiles have been replaced; the construction dust has been wiped up; and the water buckets have been banished to the janitorial closet.

Funding

A significant portion of the roof replacement project was funded via a “Raise the Roof” campaign conducted on behalf of the library.

Donations, ranging from small to significant, raised some $80,000 toward the project.

The library board had also budgeted funds for the project, but there was still a shortfall.

Then, upon the death of long-time library director, Hallie Yundt Silver in January 2024, the library board learned that she had left a significant bequest to the library. This money put the fund drive over the top, and allowed for construction to begin.

At Friday’s open house, visitors were asked to “look up” to witness the culmination of the construction project for themselves.

“Everyone who donated to the roof project, should have received an invitation,” Greathouse said. They invited members of the Hannibal City Council, and the mayor to the open house.

“We got rid of the rain buckets. It has been so emotional,” Greathouse said. “Everyone is so happy.

“It is beautiful. We were very worried about natural light when we pulled the skylight. The natural light is still there, it is just not as abrasive.”

The remainder of the money that Hallie Yundt Silver left to the library will be put into a trust in her name, to be used for future projects.

Fundraising and construction have been Greathouse’s primary function since she was named library director in September 2023.

“Now I want to breathe for a second,” she said. Throughout all the planning and construction, programming was still ongoing at the library. 

“Winter is a slow season, everyone here needs a minute.

"I have one of the best staffs. This project, it couldn’t have happened without them in the background. They handled everything while I was making sure that screws falling from the ceiling didn’t hurt anyone.

“We have not heard any negatives, all are very positive. We’re relieved it is done, excited it is done.”

Note: Ilene Ware was a retired Hannibal school teacher who bequeathed $350,000 to the Hannibal Free Public Library upon her death in 1979.