By Danielle Ray, Senior Reporter
Conant Public Library patrons not only have the opportunity to once again browse and check out materials in person as of June 1, but they can also explore the plethora of renovations and updates that have been done in the building.
“Just before the pandemic hit, we completed repainting the interior, re-carpeting and reflooring the library and adding new furnishings to the children’s and young adult (YA) area, and created a middle school area,” said Director Patricia Campbell.
Campbell said they also replaced the tables and chairs in the program room and all the seating for adults on the main floor and lower level and added a sink and cabinets for story time in the program room and new desks throughout the building.
“We also updated the electronic card catalog stations and added light-filtering shades to the south side of the building in the children’s area and main floor to make the rooms more comfortable for people to come and sit,” Campbell said, adding that they still have some tables to add to the main floor and lower level.
Campbell said the inspiration behind the dedicated area for young adults is in part due to a famous half-blood wizard.
“Thanks to Harry Potter, YA circulation went through the roof and still remains high,” she said. “While teens are still reading a lot, attendance was going down and middle school age readers were coming in more and more, so we created a special place for them.”
The space features a white board writable table and seating along with a café table and chairs for the teens.
Campbell said it has been 16 years since the last library renovation.
“Seating and furnishings were becoming worn,” she said. “We had an average of 230 people per day before the pandemic. Use of the library changes over time as well, and we wanted to make the children’s room a little less ‘library dignified’ and a lot more fun.”
Campbell said they also need “more comfy seating” on the main and lower levels, and “more flexible furnishings” in the program room. They also added new desks and cabinets during the pandemic when the library was closed to the public.
system was installed because of the pandemic to boost the Wi-Fi signal outside and to also make the signal stronger inside the library.
Campbell said the Capital Committee granted the library funds for painting and carpet, and that the Library Board of Trustees voted to use a portion of a bequest they received from the estate of Sterling resident Charles Allen “for the majority of the renovations.”
“We used some significant other memorial donations to fund projects in the children’s area and our friends of the library contributed a great deal to renovations in the children’s and YA area,” Campbell said.
She said the Friends of the Conant Public Library also helped them purchase air filters recommended by an HVAC engineer for each floor to help with public safety in the building and paid for an updated phone system with an extra line to help the library staff with the increased volume of calls they received for curbside pickup and delivery service during the pandemic.
“We never like the phone to ring more than twice when we are open,” Campbell said. “The friends have had great support through memberships and their annual craft fair and they received a generous donation from the Chocksett Club, which helped tremendously since they couldn’t hold the craft fair last year.”
Campbell said library staff “love the new look,” especially in the children’s room.
“We can’t wait to see what the public thinks,” she said. “Lots more seating, a more relaxed and comfortable look, a really fun look on the second floor and more flexibility. More color!”
The library is currently open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for all services on the main and lower levels, including in person browsing.
“By June 14 we’ll be open on the top floor as well,” Campbell said.
Staff will continue to provide curbside pickup and home delivery to town residents on Mondays and Wednesday “until use declines,” Campbell said. “We don’t have enough staff to do both every day.”
She expects that “fairly soon” they will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and continue Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the summer Saturday hours.
“We expect folks ages six and up to wear masks in the building until kids are able to be vaccinated since we serve all ages,” Campbell said. “Once that’s accomplished, we can’t wait to see everyone’s smiles and be able to smile back.”
She said they will be offering outdoor and remote programming for a while and will begin to bring some programs like Cookbook Club and knitting “back in the building.”
Campbell said she and the rest of the library staff are thrilled to have patrons back in the building and are looking forward to seeing even more patrons in person.
“We can’t wait to see more people in the building again and look forward to kids in the children’s room again,” she said. “So far it has been wonderful to have people back in. Everyone seems to love the updates.”
For more information call 978-422-6409, visit sterlinglibrary.org, and follow Conant Public Library on Facebook.
COURTESY: Heidi Flynn