Detroit Lakes Library cuts the ribbon on new bathrooms; bids farewell to executive director

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – The ribbon was cut for the $100,000 Detroit Lakes public bathroom remodel project on May 4 in a ceremony held at the library.

Greta Guck, executive director for the Detroit Lakes Public Library, described the new changes to the bathrooms and why they were needed.

“They were pretty dark,” said Guck. “And that was from the community needs assessment, one of the big things, they were so dark. And when you first walked into it there was a half wall right away, they weren’t ADA compliant, which is honestly, aside from all the aesthetics we brought to it, the ADA compliance is huge.”

She said they also replaced the old two sinks with a larger, connected single sink model.

The remodel was the first major renovation to the bathrooms since 1988, she added.

It was also an emotional ceremony for Guck since it was also her farewell party.

Guck will be taking over ownership of the Willow bookstore in downtown Perham over the next month and she explained how running a bookstore could be a difficult transition from working at a library.

“This is a joke, but remembering to make people pay for the books,” she said. 

Guck continued: “My dad gave me some good advice and he said, ‘you never work as hard as you do for yourself,’ which I like to work. And I like doing work I enjoy.”

A new executive director for the Detroit Lakes Public Library is expected to be selected in coming months and Guck said the new director should remember leadership is important in running a public institution.

“When you are in a leadership position, it really sets the tone,” Guck said. “We have a wonderful staff here and we have a good relationship with the city. A lot of good boards, a lot of supporters of the library, and (the new director) should be someone that just brings a positive attitude, and a collaborative working nature.”

She also said, regardless for who is selected, there is still going to be a lot to do to continue maintaining and keeping up with the 110-year-old downtown building.