By:Nicole Falco
The much anticipated work began Jan. 3 in the library's Children's Room. Fresh paint, carpeting, and children's craft and storytime sections, as well as computer stations are planned. In the Adult Room, patrons can expect to see new reference and circulation desks, dedicated spaces for reading new books and periodicals, and additional computer work stations, as well as fresh paint and carpeting. Also, sound-absorbing material will be installed.
"The complaint that we got was that it was always too noisy in the library," said Marshall Botwinick, library director. "In the Children's Room, the complaint was always that you had to move everything around to do anything."
While renovations are underway, the library will remain open. Patrons can still borrow books from both the adult and children's rooms. However, children's programs have been postponed until the project is complete. "We're trying to keep the library open throughout the whole period that construction is going on," Botwinick said. "Of course, there's going to be limited access to certain areas and limited access to certain items." Behind the scenes, the staff rooms are going to be reconfigured to allow for a more conducive working environment. Also, a conference room is planned. All of the library's renovations are being done within the building's existing space. "The library should be a more comfortable place for people to use," Botwinick said. "It'll look much better. It'll be a nicer place to come to and it's not going to cost [residents] anything. It's being paid for with money the village already has gotten."
The $850,000 project was approved by the Library and Village boards last year, and contracts have been awarded. Weidersum Associates, the architectural firm that designed the library in 1962, planned the internal improvements. The work is being paid for with funds the village received from contracts for library services with the Mill Brook community and North Valley Stream. Mill Brook entered into a three-year contract in January 2003 and North Valley Stream entered into a one-year contract in January 2004. That community recently approved a two-year contract. The library hasn't changed much since it was built. In recent years, a parking lot was built adjacent to the facility, off Valley Stream Boulevard, and new windows, lighting and doors were installed two years ago.
