By Laura Lane
What is most striking about the library is how cheerful it is. Light streams through the building's many windows, which creates an air of tranquillity and warmth.
Patrons can read in the adult area on the building's south side. Facing a garden, the area offers many options. Several reading tables provide wireless access for those with laptops, and window seats offer views of the garden. There are also soft coffee-shop armchairs.
Library officials are considering adding benches in the garden next spring. "It is always our intention to provide a peaceful, pretty place in the garden," said library Director Ellen Firer. "An option might be to read a magazine or book outside."
Firer is uncertain how many books the library has. It is still replacing books destroyed in the 2004 Library Wing fire. "We have the capacity at our new location to increase selections," said Firer. "We'll have a mixture of old and new books, and we have replaced the children's selections that we lost in the fire."
The new library also boasts many videos, DVDs and CDs, which are housed upstairs.
The room that stands out most is the children's area. "The children's room is the jewel of the library," said Firer. "We hired an artist to paint the aquatic mural on the walls, and we're getting a six-foot saltwater fish tank for the center of the room."
The children's room seating is special as well. "We ordered blob chairs for the children's room because they're so comfortable," said Firer. "And in the toddler area, we have chairs that are cushiony soft, big enough for a child and caregiver to sit on together. They look like open books."
Children will enjoy their own program room, too. It's half carpeted and half tiled to enable the library's programming to be versatile. Children can enjoy craft projects and snacks in the tiled area, which also has a kitchen, and then wander over to the carpeted area for story time.
The new teen room is cool, with a ceiling made of bright blue and green bendable aluminum panels that match the comfortable seating. There are plenty of shelves for the many teen books and magazines and three computers.
Library officials plan to use the multi-purpose room on the building's north side for many programs, which begin Dec. 7. The room is large and can be divided into two rooms. It includes a kitchen, a movie screen and a portable stage.
Checkout has changed. Patrons will now receive printed receipts to replace the traditional due-date cards. "The cards are expensive and take a ridiculous amount of time to stamp, and people lost them," said Firer. "Receipts are economical and environmentally better."
Patrons will now be able to check out books themselves, both upstairs and downstairs near the entrances, though they can still check out books the traditional way by bringing them to the circulation desk. "People will get in and out of the library faster," said Firer. "And the new system benefits the staff too, because they experienced injuries from opening, closing and scanning the books -- injuries like carpal tunnel, a repetitive-stress syndrome."
Employees are enjoying the many improvements. "We have several offices now, including a circulation office, which we didn't have before," said Firer. "And we have a technical processing office to enter our new books, DVDs, etc., into the system. That office used to be in a closet."
Firer concluded, "We still have a full staff and full service. What's different is we have state-of-the-art technology, but what's not different is the service. It will be the same, if not better. Our main purpose at the library is to service the community."
Comments about this story? LLane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
