It's really gonna happen

December 21, 2007 10:57 pm
Reading room to enchant children
Westernport library getting renovations
Kevin Spradlin
Cumberland Times-News
WESTERNPORT — Local library branch manager Nancy Sudine has not gotten caught up in titles — for people, at least. But if she had to pick one to hang her hat on, it’d be director of children’s services.

It’s a good fit for the 21-year veteran. As she puts it, “that’s my niche.”

It might not be coincidence then, that the children’s storytime area at the Westernport Library is to be the “major jewel of the crown” of renovations, which begin early next year. The library is scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Jan. 19 and take a week to empty the building.

From Feb. 4 until its scheduled reopening on April 7, the inside of the library will be transformed. It’s the first major renovation to the 38-year-old building and should put the memories of the 1996 flood out of mind.

“It’s time,” Sudine said of the need for renovations.

John Taube, director of the Allegany County Library System, recently asked Sudine to come up with a theme of the storytime area as an enchanted forest. Because memories of the flood remain fresh in her mind, Sudine insisted the library “did not want anything to do with water. It was a bad experience cleaning up the muck and the mud.”

Sudine chose an enchanted forest theme. It’s one that makes sense, she said.

“When you look around this end of Allegany County, you see forests, trees,” Sudine said.

In fact, trees are going to play a major role in the renovations — literally. Tree stumps are going to be configured to serve as the end panels of bookshelves.

“They are gorgeous,” Sudine said.

The upcoming renovations have Sudine and her staff excited. Working with Andrea DePalatis, of Spectrum Design in Frostburg, Cumberland’s Terry Bachman of Tangram Woodworks is using his expertise to add to the natural scenery look of the area. Sculptor Kurt Bonello of Everett, Pa., is using natural objects — glass and stone — for a creation to hang from the ceiling.

“Oh, I can’t wait,” Sudine said. “We’re doing a happy dance.”

Sudine and the library’s loyal patrons have a lot to look forward to. Beginning with the storytime area, “it’s going to be completely different,” Sudine said.

The current project will rewire the facility and allow it to handle computers — something not thought of in 1969, Taube said. There also will be new furniture, new carpet and the inside will be painted. The meeting room also will be renovated.

“We want to make the place as warm and welcoming and bright and colorful as the community and the staff there is,” Taube said. “It’s a real piece of the community.”

A local artist is creating a sculpture to display and a local woodworker is helping to build the child’s storytime area.

The building was constructed in 1969 and opened the following year. After the 1996 flood damage, carpet and some furniture was replaced, Taube said, but the building still had needed repairs and updates. It received a new floor and roof last year at a cost of about $122,000.

The remaining $23,000, combined with other money from a 2006 bond issue the county borrowed, created a total of $80,000 in county funding for the current project.

Taube has acquired about $63,000 in state grants — matched with county funding — to help complete the project, said county Finance Director Jerry Frantz.

“They will have a pretty nice library when it’s all said and done,” Frantz said.

Taube said he’s thankful county officials recognize the need for this project and hopes they are as generous with future improvement.

Taube knows how much the town celebrates and patronizes its library. He might not be aware of the depth of their excitement, however. Sudine said casual conversation led to the idea of having a party when the library reopens.

That talk led to the possibility of a full-scale parade — complete with children pushing shopping carts like those used in libraries down Main Street.

“It’s so exciting,” Sudine said.

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.