After nearly nine months without elevator service, the Peninsula Public Library is once again fully accessible, celebrating the completion of a state-of-the-art elevator that library officials say will better serve patrons of all ages and abilities for decades to come.
Library trustees, staff and Lawrence Mayor Samuel Nahmias gathered on July 16 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of the $184,000 modernization project. The elevator had returned to service on July 10 after receiving final approvals.
For the library, which circulates more than 2,000 books each week and hosts dozens of programs for children, teens and adults, restoring elevator access represented far more than a building improvement. “This is an important milestone in the library’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and service for the community,” board of trustees President Akiva Lubin said. “Everybody can be proud of it.”
The library’s previous elevator, which had operated for decades, was taken out of service last October, when it had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer reliable. Replacement parts had become increasingly difficult to obtain, which made it clear to trustees that continued repairs no longer made sense, and a comprehensive modernization was the only option.
“We redid the entire electrical system,” Lubin said. “It was much more extensive than just the elevator. Everything was so antiquated. We had all the codes changed, and we had to upgrade a lot of things in order to get the elevator up to current standards.”
The project includes entirely new mechanical and electrical components. “Everything that’s in the machine room was replaced,” explained Joseph Lichtman, president of Sentry Elevator Corp., based in Brooklyn, which did the work. “Motors and controllers, computers that run this elevator — all of that, the electrical supply, everything in that room. The interior of the elevator was redone, the button panels, the door operators, all the electrical wiring up and down the shaftway. So it’s pretty much, to a large extent, a new elevator.”
The new system also incorporates technology unavailable for the previous elevator, including telephone and internet connectivity, automated voice announcements identifying each floor, and enhanced safety features. The elevator was designed to meet, and exceed, Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
Walking into the elevator, Lubin said, patrons immediately notice the improvements. “It announces the floor on a recording,” he said. “It’s top of the line, state of the art.”
Library officials said that according to initial estimates, replacing the elevator could cost nearly $500,000. After a competitive bidding process produced proposals that were higher than expected, the board, following legal guidance, ultimately selected Sentry, which completed the work for hundreds of thousands of dollars below early projections.
“We got it done ahead of schedule and hundreds of thousands of dollars below budget,” Lubin said. “The board worked very hard, and we’re very happy with it.”
Lichtman credited the collaboration among his company, the library board and suppliers for helping accelerate the project.
“The board really pleaded that anything that could be done on the timing schedule would be appreciated, because it really was an issue for the general public and providing handicapped access,” he said. “I contacted the vendors, and they all understood the situation. Everybody was on the same page.”
Although installation was mostly completed in early June and the elevator passed inspection on June 11, final activation required completion of telecommunications systems, internet connectivity and additional paperwork before the library received authorization to begin operations this month.
For the staff, the return of elevator service immediately improved daily operations. Pat Murphy, the librarian in charge, said that accessibility has always been especially meaningful to her.
“I did handicapped permits, and I also happen to have a disabled daughter,” Murphy said. “So I know how critical an elevator is. I was very glad to see when it was finally operating here in this library.”
Patrons quickly embraced the restored service, she added. “Everybody who comes in really appreciates that the elevator’s working,” Murphy said. “We have a senior population. We have a lot of young babies and children, mothers with strollers. It’s critical to our operation.”
The elevator connects all levels of the library, making it easier for visitors to attend children’s story times, educational workshops, community meetings and other events, regardless of mobility challenges.
“This is a great library,” Murphy said. “It’s particularly good for this community. We have a very wide range of patrons — adults, children, toddlers. This library serves them all with programs, with books, with everything.”
Lubin said that the new elevator would ensure that every visitor can take advantage of everything the library has to offer. “For some people, the stairs weren’t an issue,” he said. “But for seniors, parents with strollers and anyone with mobility challenges, this makes all the difference. It’s wonderful to have it back in service.”
