Newly renovated New Milford library offers expanded amenities

A ribbon reducing to open up the library right after the $8.5 million task will be held at 10 a.m. on Feb. 18. The library will have distinctive giveaways whilst materials last for the grand opening working day as very well as activities and programming.

New additions

Patrons can unwind with a book in hand in the new outdoor patio space, positioned in close proximity to the library’s front entrance. 

Area teens can congregate in the two-ground Teen Area, which residences cabinets of young adult fiction, puzzles, video games and a audio-proof booth.

A gazebo has been designed inside a single segment of the library’s children’s area, and Bass reported the children’s librarian will keep readings inside the new gazebo. 

The children’s space underwent cleanup soon after a burst pipe flooded the children’s part and the library’s basement on Feb. 4. Bass said the h2o from the pipe poured on to the flooring, harmful some of the books on the section’s lowest cabinets. Fans have been set up all around the children’s section to dry the flooring.

Alongside with producing further children’s programming, Bass claimed the library has partnered with the town’s Financial Enhancement Corporation and Score — a nonprofit corporation that presents no cost session companies and suggestions to business people — to host diverse presentations associated to small enterprises at the library.

Bass stated the library has also partnered with the town’s Senior Centre to manage packages and activities that “pinpoint the demands of our seniors,” and with the New Milford Youth Company to offer actions and do “whatever we can to assistance our youth come out of COVID.”

“It’s all operating symbiotically,” Bass stated of the library’s partnerships.

Past the advancements designed to the library’s initially flooring — like fresh paint and set up of LED lighting — Bass stated the library has a brand new second ground, which can be accessed by way of stairs or the new elevator on the to start with flooring.

Bass mentioned librarian Lorna Rhyins and her crew are working on setting up a Maker Place —  a community workspace, on the second floor.

Additionally, an art gallery that includes community artwork has also been founded on the next flooring. Also, 3 tutor rooms have been developed on the next room to provide patrons a personal place to examine, and a row of desktops for community use are stationed along the wall past the bookshelves.

The new Connecticut Home on the next floor retains the library’s selection of scarce textbooks, initially editions, city assembly records and other historic guides. The Connecticut Room will also provide as a meeting area for the public.

“The place we experienced just before — the previous Connecticut Space — was a quarter of the sizing of this,” Bass additional.

There is also a reading place on the next ground, the place persons can browse the textbooks, just take a seat on the room’s comfy chairs and admire a picturesque perspective of the town.

‘An above 20-year process’

The $8.5 million renovation project for the library at 24 Primary St. was proposed in 2016, however Bass mentioned the renovation has been “an above 20-calendar year process.”

“The Library Board of Trustees has been genuinely advocating for the library for several, lots of yrs,” Bass explained.

Out of the $8.5 million, the town paid $6.5 million toward the task, when the Library Board of Trustees donated $1 million to the building and the Connecticut Point out Library awarded a $1 million grant, also for development.

The renovation undertaking included including 6,500 sq. feet to the library, bringing the new total to 22,000 square ft. The undertaking also involved installing a new children’s department, a teenager-specified space and additional community seating locations.

The library building shut in May perhaps 2020 to make way for the renovation job, and development started that June. The library presented patrons curbside company and lobby browsing as properly as in-human being and on-line programming while design was taking place.