A couple of weeks ago, in our Library History lesson, I wrote about the huge number of books the library had in its collection in 1966; almost twice the number of books that the library had shelves for. Books were everywhere.

There was also a record player in the basement on Brown Street. I have a photo of a teenage girl sitting with headphones, listening to a record. No name is given but I’ll have it posted to the library’s Facebook page this morning and if you know who she is, let us know. She’s listening to an old 33 rpm record, one of the big ones. There are enormous speakers attached to the record player as well. I found a receipt from Fisher Electronics of Milroy dated Sept. 8, 1967. It reads in part, “As you requested the value of the Model 75 phonograph which our company presented… was $269.50. The headphones which accompanied this unit are valued at $29.95.” I vaguely remember Fisher Electronics of Milroy in the Corvette America building. At the time, the phone number was NOrthfield 7-2101; if you read my column regularly, you may remember how fascinated I am by the old name phone number combo.

I think I’m getting off topic. I would love to know why a library would have a record player. Do you remember going to the library and listening to records? What kind of records would they have? I don’t know that I’d think of going to the library to listen to records. Libraries are in the book business. Is this how they did audiobooks?

There are four little rooms in the library on Wayne Street now. Two of them are used to house our copy machines. One houses the internet stuff like the wifi router and technical things like that. The other is storage. But I remember, in 1994, that they were carpeted; the desk was carpeted and I remember staff telling me that they were record nooks. If you remember records at the library, I’d love to hear from you.

When you visit the Mifflin County Library you will see empty shelves. But don’t panic. You may also have seen an advertisement for bids for alterations to the library in the Sentinel on Nov. 13. Construction on our 50-year-old building is on the way. I imagine that I’m just as eager about this building as Mrs. Stuckenrath and Miss Elder were back in the day. The bathrooms will be upgraded, the elevator will be upgraded. The library will need new windows. The library needs a new HVAC system; it’s either too hot or too cold in the children’s library. Plus, we’ll receive additional electrical outlets. In 1975, no one charged a laptop.

In addition to these, we are hopeful to have a new entrance to the children’s library. Right now, you walk down the stairs, through the double doors, down the hall, around the corner, and into the library. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could go down the stairs, turn a corner, and see the entrance to the children’s library from the hallway?

I welcome you to celebrate with us. Is it stressful and full of scary changes? Absolutely. But it will be well worth it in the end.

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Susan Miriello is the Executive Director of the Mifflin County Library.