By Sarah Light, staff writer

What has once housed a library, a bank and a senior center has now become the home for Minnesota Abstract & Title Co.

Two weeks ago, the old Carnegie Library &8212; on the corner of Washington Avenue and College Street &8212; was reopened for the abstract business.

Before the move, Minnesota Abstract had been at 115 W. College St., right next door to the former Midwest Antiques building, which the city has condemned because of its dilapidated condition.

Judy Jackson, receptionist and primary closer at Minnesota Abstract, said the business purchased the building about two years ago when there was a possibility that Walgreens would move onto College Street. Though Walgreens did not end up purchasing that land, Minnesota Abstract still purchased the old Carnegie Library.

Then, earlier this spring, the business finally made plans to renovate the building because it would offer more room and a more professional setting, business owner Lisa Magnotta said.

On top of it all, when problems increased with the former Midwest Antiques building, there was the fear that the dilapidation of the antiques building would have an effect on the abstract company&8217;s building.

After the decision was made to move, it took about six weeks to clean, repaint and recarpet the Carnegie Library for the business. A few new partition walls were built, but all of the original structure stayed the same.

&8220;It&8217;s been a real smooth transition,&8221; Jackson said. &8220;It&8217;s nice; it&8217;s open; it&8217;s a fresh start.&8221;

In the future, Magnotta said, the abstract business hopes to expand at this location. Now that it&8217;s at the new location, this can be a possibility.

For now, though, Minnesota Abstract is the same as it was when it moved out just down the block, with the same staff and services.

&8220;We just love it,&8221; Magnotta said of the new location. &8220;It&8217;s a nice setting.&8221;

People in the community have also commented on how excited they are to see the historical building being used again, Jackson said.

&8220;It&8217;s been fun to watch them come in and say, &8216;Wow,&8217;&8221; she said. &8220;It must have been fate that we come here.&8221;