Mary, my administrative assistant, was in line at Walmart when she heard, “Hey! Hey!” Then a pause and a, “Hey! Library Lady! Is the library open yet?”

She turned and found the speaker, a library patron that she recognized. “Not yet,” she answered, “what do you need?” Because our normal response is to give the person directions to our Kish Library in Belleville.

We aren’t open yet, being the response, but you’re going to love it when it’s done, being the rest of the answer.

By the time you read this, the bookcases at the Mifflin County Library will be in place. Now, you need to understand that this is a substantial change. A huge change. Change, change, change. And people don’t like change. So, let me tell you a little bit about the changes.

The adult fiction area bookcases always ran the length of the wall. Always, for the last 50 years. We decided to change everything. The bookcases now run perpendicular to the outer wall. It’s going to be difficult to find things for a while but you will love it.

The adult computer area will be enclosed in glass as a quiet or study area and where large print books had been, will now be the library’s IdentoGo fingerprinting office and patron use rooms. Although, these little rooms will most likely house some other books for the time being.

As I’ve said before, we’re moving 28,000 books more or less. At the writing of this column, the circulation service desk in both the upper level and the lower levels have not been installed but doing this will not take a lot of time.

Now for the children’s library: the biggest changes are the windows which let in a ton of natural light. The nonfiction books are still along the perimeter wall but now under the windows. Juvenile fiction books are still along the other perimeter wall but these bookcases start just inside the entrance. The entrance is another big change to the children’s library. This is so hard to write about so I’ll just let you wait and see for yourself.

All of the current shelving is 50 years old. They are outdated. I know that many people are going to say that the shelving was good enough. But that’s not good enough for me.

A wonderful library friend and volunteer recently passed away leaving a sizable bequest to Mifflin County Library and I cannot think of a better way to remember him than by purchasing new, colorful children’s bookcases in his memory. These bookcases will not arrive until later in February.

Again, thank you for your excited patience as we get through our renovations. You may be able to get a sneak peek through one of our new windows.

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Susan Miriello is the Executive Director of the Mifflin County Library. Kish Library’s phone number is (717) 935-2880 and the library’s cell phone number is (717) 543-7236. Our normal phone isn’t working just yet.