“God’s Plan” for the G. Allen Fleece Library

“God’s Plan” for the G. Allen Fleece Library

Lights will shine on the familiar relief sculpture of the Bible in a new glass-e

Lights will shine on the familiar relief sculpture of the Bible in a new glass-enclosed main entrance to the G. Allen Fleece Library.

"Nothing you can imagine could surpass God's plan for you."

The quote was on the desk of CIU Library Director Jo Ann Rhodes. It was dated Friday, May 7, 2010, the day before an intense fire caused over $2.5 million in damages to the G. Allen Fleece Library. She read it as she surveyed the damage.

"As my staff and I stood in my office and read this quote, we were stunned at the impact it had on us immediately, realizing that in God's providence, He had allowed this disaster to take place," Rhodes said.

"We were only beginning to feel the devastating effect of the fire on our work and on the students' needs, but we knew right then that even the difficulties ahead would not 'surpass God's plan for' us."

And what is God's plan for the G. Allen Fleece Library? Renovations are now underway. See page 16 of the fall 2010 edition of CIU's "Connection" magazine. Go to: /publications and click on "Latest Issue."