First Lady's Salute

First lady Laura Bush saluted the opening of the new West Regional Branch of the Mobile Public Library on Wednesday night, delighting the 200-plus invited guests inside the $10.5 million new building, and the dozens more who gathered outside to try to catch a peek.

"You should be proud of the investment you've made in your community and your future -- especially in your children's future," Bush said in a short speech. "So as we open new doors today, we open a new chapter in the history of the Mobile Public Library -- and we ensure this institution continues to be a living repository for information, education and beloved books."

Bush arrived in Mobile in the early afternoon. After interviews with local reporters at the library, she reappeared at the facility at 5555 Grelot Road shortly after 6 p.m. She met briefly with civic leaders and library supporters in a second floor room before speaking to the larger crowd.

More than 200 members of the Friends of the Library paid $150 apiece to attend the 2-hour reception and hear Bush. The reception replaced the usual sit-down dinner saluting a famous author, which has been the main fund-raiser for the supporters' group.

Local residents who weren't invited to the event will get a better chance to see Bush today, when the looming reality of Alabama's general election intrudes on what had been a scrupulously nonpartisan affair.

After spending the night in Mobile, Bush will join Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Riley and Jo Bonner, the party's nominee for southwest Alabama's 1st District congressional seat, at a rally today. The rally, called on short notice Wednesday evening, will start at 8 a.m. at the Mobile Marriott hotel.

Nan Costello, a member of the friends' group and one of the organizers of the event, said she hoped Bush's visit would raise the visibility of the library, and aid funding for the expansion of the main library downtown.

"When people start thinking about the importance of libraries, that makes a difference," Costello said.

Betty Graham, president of the Friends of the Library, saluted Bush's former career as a grade-school teacher and librarian, calling her "the most prestigious librarian in the whole nation." Bush has adopted libraries, reading, early childhood education and teacher recruitment as her main causes since her husband took office in 2001.

After the speech, Bush cut a cake celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Mobile Public Library. The cake layers were iced to look like books, with volumes entitled "Presidents" and "First Ladies" supporting an open book noting the centennial of the library.

Founder of the Texas Book Festival in Austin while her husband was governor of Texas, Bush helped create a similar event in Washington, the National Book Festival. It was held for the second time last weekend.

The first lady might be able to sympathize with Mobile library workers who have labored to get books on the shelf at the Grelot Road library. Bush said she had received 250 books from booksellers at the national festival, and just put them up on her shelves, giving her an ample supply of new reading material. In her speech, she wished that the new building give Mobilians the same delight in a stack of unread books that she has.

"Children known that if they have a question about the world, the library is the place to find the answer," Bush said.

In Mobile, few traces of the days-long scramble to put together the 59,000 square-foot library were evident Wednesday afternoon. In the place of Tuesday's cacophony of workers was the clean silence of the prototypical library.

By then, the last marble pieces had been laid in the lobby floor, the wooden edge of the stage Bush spoke from had been finished, and even the bathroom had been garnished with fresh flowers.

Janette Curry, manager of the Moore Spring Hill Branch library, was one of those who helped rush the West Regional Branch to completion. Curry said she has admired the broad windows of the new facility as she worked this week.

"I've worker for the library for 19 years, and this is just such an overwhelming event," Curry said.

Security remained tight around the library all day. At midafternoon, 21 law enforcement vehicles were in the parking lot. Spokeswomen for the first lady and Secret Service agents continued to decline to discuss details of Bush's travel plans.

Despite advice to the contrary on Tuesday from the local Secret Service, more than 150 people lined up on the north side of Grelot Road, across from the library, hoping to see just a little bit of Bush.

Jane Dekle, 45, was among the crowd of mainly women and children. Dekle, who lives in the nearby Regency Oaks subdivision, held a sign that said: "First Class, First Lady, Mobile Loves You."

"I think she is doing a wonderful job as first lady," Dekle said. "I think she is a very classy lady, and I'm really glad she came to Mobile."

"I can respect this," said Irene Lignos, 64, who also lives in Regency Oaks. "She is appearing here, and it doesn't bother me. I'm just glad to be here on the outskirts, just proud to be an American."

Refreshments were served from the librarians' stations, and three different sets of musicians provided music. Library boosters mingled throughout the new building, even squatting at the small tables in the children's area. Among the books already on the shelves in the children's area -- short biographies of Laura Bush and George W. Bush.

Library Director Spencer Watts said Tuesday that more than 50,000 of the 110,000 books initially planned for the library are already on the shelf. The branch will be able to hold more than 200,000 volumes.

The library, which replaces a storefront location on Cottage Hill Road, will officially be dedicated Nov. 1. By that time, the support areas on the second floor should be finished, equipment will be installed and books moved from Cottage Hill.

A longtime Bush friend, Mobile resident Missy Foose, greeted the first lady earlier in the afternoon. Foose got to know the Bushes when they were neighbors in Dallas.

Foose hosted Bush in May 2000 when she made a brief rest stop and hosted a small fund-raiser. Bush said Wednesday she had visited Mobile once before the 2000 stop.

Earlier in the day, Bush visited Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, to encourage military personnel to consider teaching when they leave the armed forces.

Among three teachers honored at the 30-minute ceremony was William Byrd Jr., a seventh-grade math, science and reading teacher at Riverton Middle School, near Huntsville.

IT'S 19 DAYS 'TIL THE ELECTION

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY TO HELP TAKE BACK THE SENATE?

YOU CAN HELP, TODAY. GO TO:

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican majority in the Senate

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.