The Hometown Treasure October 2011 | Page 18

New features at the library … … larger computer lab with more computers. … lots of comfy seating! … easier access (note the stroller)! … a fireplace! Photos by Dawn Byler during open house pg 16 · The Hometown Treasure · Oct. ‘11 Checked Out ... continued from previous page tions as well as microfiche readers and two copy machines for the genealogy aficionados. Children’s Librarian, Mary Miller, is enjoying her expanded section located on the main floor of the library. She has a larger workspace to prepare her special programs for young children and toddlers. Currently, Mary is conducting story time utilizing puppets and her puppet theatre. The story time occurs in the new multipurpose room on the main floor every Tuesday at ten in the morning and again at one in the afternoon. Also, new to the children’s area is a reading area called “The Reading U.” This is a u-shaped book shelf area equipped with beanbag chairs and soft carpeting where children can enjoy reading books and is featured on our front cover. Another addition to the Children’s section is a toddlers’ area where special work tables have been placed so that the toddlers may enjoy the many “touchable” learning items that the library provides. A rocking chair is also available in one of the quiet corners of the room to afford a place for children to be rocked and read to. The Bookmobile is another beneficiary of the new library. A new garage houses the library’s van as well as the bookmobile. The basement is used to store two-thirds of the bookmobile’s books, which are constantly rotated in order to provide a fresh selection of books for the bookmobile’s patrons. According to Michelle, the most important addition to the library is that the facility is totally handicap accessible. Elevators afford access to every floor of the library. Previously, the only departments that were handicap accessible were the public computers and the community room, which by the way still exists. Both, the community room and the computers were located on the bottom floor of the original library. Looking at the numbers, the new library has almost tripled in size. The old Carnegie library offered 12,323 square feet of space, while the new library has expanded to 35,487 square feet. The amount of public access computers as well as available seating has increased by 66%. At least one restroom for both genders are provided on each floor. Before remodeling, there was only one men’s restroom and one women’s restroom in the entire library. As Michelle emphasized, every area of the library has been expanded. So, share in Michelle’s enthusiasm and visit our “new” county library, where browsing is always welcome and encouraged! … room for motorized wheelchairs! … comfy bean bags in the children’s area!