By Marley Seaman
The library will hold its reopening ceremony on Sept. 25. The festivities will mark the biggest changes the library has seen since the former children's wing was added in 1986, if not since the current building opened in 1962. Baldwin residents approved a $5.53 million bond for renovations to the library in January 2001, and the final changes include a community room, wireless Internet access, 19 new computers, a young-adult literature section, space for computer training and career information, and more lighting and shrubbery on the library grounds.
"I think the community is going to be very proud," said Librarian Cathy Overton. "There will be a lot going on here."
Ray Beeler of Beeler Architect P.C., which designed the building and renovations, calls the new facility "light, airy and open. The existing building was a 1960 modern structure, and we tried to design something that was compatible with that," Beeler said.
The original children's wing, once a European-American Bank branch, was torn down early in construction. It measured approximately 5,100 square feet, and has been replaced by a 27,500-square-foot addition that holds the new children's section and features a storytelling amphitheater and the community room. Located on the west side of the addition, the community room can hold 180 people, and features a small stage with a projection screen and a piano, as well as a kitchenette. The capacity of the old community room, in the library basement, was about 80.
"People want a library to be a community center these days," said Overton. "They don't just want to get a book or a video."
The young-adult section is located upstairs, as is a classroom facility where patrons can learn computer skills. The second floor is now accessible by elevator, and the rest of the building is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many library sections, such as the audio/visual department, have their own space for the first time, and older students now have a homework center.
Almost a third of the addition, 8,500 square feet, is unfinished space on the second floor. Library trustees and the architect say that the space will give the library room to expand in the future, saving money by making future construction unnecessary.
Construction was originally scheduled to be completed on April 20, 2004. However, problems developed with the project's main contractor. "He wasn't paying his subcontractors and wasn't maintaining his schedule," said Dennis Sullivan of Sullivan and Nickel, which consulted with the library on the renovations. As a result, construction was not complete until the beginning of April 2005.
Since then, work has continued on interior improvements and finishing touches. With a month remaining before the official reopening, a number of changes have yet to be made, and many of the new services the library will offer are not yet available. The community room, for example, became usable only recently, because it was being used as a storage space.
The dedication will also mark the official resumption of library programming. Although the library remained at least partially open almost every day of construction, most programming was suspended.
Changes, inside and out
The changes are not confined to the look of the library. A new patio has been built at the corner of Grand Avenue and Prospect Street. The ground is decorated with memorial bricks purchased by citizens. New shrubs are being planted around the patio and on the pathway between the library and Baldwin Lanes bowling alley. The pathway itself has been entirely redone, and features new lighting.
An LED screen, yet to be installed, will stand along Grand Avenue and broadcast events and updates. On Sept. 10, an antique street clock will be dedicated in front of the library in a ceremony that will include a band and a children's raffle.
The older library building has been spruced up with new paint and carpeting. The additional space has also reduced crowding. "I came [to the library] in 1996, and there were book trucks everywhere because we were just out of space," says Overton. Now there is more room between shelves, and walls, windows and exits that were formerly unused will be visible again. Many of the shelves, which were formerly a mustard yellow, have been refinished in a natural wood color.
Kevin Kamen, president of the library board that governs the building on behalf of the Baldwin School District, said that the board kept the community's wants in mind throughout the renovations. "We've saved all of our letters over the years," he said. "We've been able to acquire some of these wish-list items."
Entering the 21st century
The new computers bring the library's total up to 73, although some are reserved for staff use. Common tables in the original building will have power outlets for patrons' computers, to complement the wireless Internet access. There is a new children's computer section, where they will be able to play games, use the Internet and do word processing.
"It's a little more state-of-the-art," said Marianne Kobbe, head of reference and adult services. "We had very few computers for public access, and that demand is so primary now."
With the new DVD, CD and VHS technology, Kobbe says that the library's days of showing movies on a 16-millimeter film projector are a thing of the past. "Technology marches on, and we have to keep up," she said.
New plans
The original renovation plan changed in a number of ways in the four years since its adoption. The decision to demolish the children's wing was made only after it was determined that the new addition and unfinished space would make construction easier and increase the library's size by 5,000 square feet at no extra cost. Minor changes, such as an electric fireplace, which will be installed near the children's section, were paid for by unsolicited donations from community members. These totaled about $50,000.
Kobbe is excited by the results. "It's beautiful. It looks like a university library," she said. When she came to Baldwin in early 2001, she recalled, in addition to the space shortage, "Even basic things like carpeting and shelving needed to be renovated."
The grand opening ceremonies are scheduled for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 25. The day's schedule of events has not yet been finalized.
Comments about this story? MSeaman or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282
