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For the last couple of weeks I've been writing about some of the crazy stuff that's been going on at the library while we're renovating. Stuff like the removal of the dumbwaiter knocking out the fax line and the crazy placement of our laptops so that we can check out your books since the electricity to the circulation desk is off. But, you know, it will be so worth it in the end. It's a temporary inconvenience for a more permanent solution. (That's our new mantra!)
As you know from reading my columns, the children's library being in the basement was never meant to be. The children's library was supposed to be in the "North Wing"; this is where the children's books are currently, on the upper level with the adult nonfiction books. The lower level basement was just a basement in 1975. But the library quickly outgrew its space. Don't get me wrong, outgrowing your space, especially if you are a library, is a wonderful thing. As a solution, the children's books were moved to the lower level. It's very basement-feeling. Humid in the summer, sort of cold in the winter. The ceilings are low and the library is hard to find if you are a new visitor at the library. It's down the hall, around the corner, and turn another corner or "follow the rainbow."
Originally, our renovation project would not take place on the upper level until the lower level was finished. Something very exciting happened: Miss Kelly and her team were able to get all of the children's books moved to the shelves on the upper level. Since nothing is in the children's library, we will be able to do some Phase Two construction now.
What does all this mean? The Lewistown Branch will be closed beginning Monday, July 8 and upper level construction will begin at the same time as lower level Phase Two work. Kish Branch Library will have extended hours and hopefully many of you will enjoy the drive up the valley. Because a lot of the upper level work involves updating our antiquated electrical system, there will be no electricity, no wifi and no phone service. But we're going to purchase a cellphone.
You are invited to come to the library and stock up on books, just like we did in March 2020 when Covid hit. This time, it's not Covid, it's construction.
There is one thing I've been a little embarrassed about sharing with all of you. You know that we don't have enough electrical outlets for people to plug in laptops and cellphones and you know that staff share outlets and that extension cords snake between offices. But, did you know that there are only two sets of light switches in the upper level? Yes, two. One that powers Shelly's office and one that powers the track-lighting in the magazine area. Do you know how we turn the lights off in the evening? We turn the lights off in the evening by turning off the breaker switches in the breaker box.
That's pretty bad and just not ok. In the fall, when we were accepting bids on this project, every electrician was shocked and appalled or just said, "Oh, boy," with a sigh when they learned this is how we turn off the lights. I don't know why this was done in 1975 and it's a little bit scary. The wiring is 50-years-old and I'm so grateful that it will soon be updated.
I'll be writing about our renovations each week from now on and giving you an update on how things are progressing so please keep reading my columns. I'll give you our cell phone number and we are working on a procedure to get books to you. And Kish Branch Library in Belleville will be open to browse.
I am happy to work with the commissioners on this project. It is so exciting and you will be happy with our new library when it is done.
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Susan Miriello is the Executive Director of the Mifflin County Library.