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.

LATI project

Sherry and I are doing our project on Westernport's renovation. I found out this week that the date's been pushed up yet again. At first it was supposed to be August, and we would have had the Bookmobile stationed at the park across the street from my house for so many days a week. This would have been an interesting experience for a number of reasons: I've only been on it once; the park has a walking track that maybe we could have used during down time; there's a gazebo in the middle of it that I had planned to hold storyhours; just a nice all around work day. Then the date was changed to November/December. Oooops...forget November. We're still here and open for business. I IM'd my director last week and asked if it were safe to say we'd still be open in December. Yep. Renovation will start 1 February. So now I'm assuming we'll close mid to the sort of end of January in order to pack up the building. This is actually a good thing. Have you ever seen a working workroom? I was afraid I wouldn't be ready when the time came. I can't believe the stuff I'm finding...and it seems to be multiplying. As fast as I play pitch and toss, here comes more. And the books! We've kept up pretty well with weeding in the past few years, and it's funny that I've said at least 3 times "we're doing another MAJOR weed". Here we are again. Another MAJOR weed.I thought I was being relentless before. Nope. I am now. That's the good thing...more time to get rid of stuff. The not-good-thing is that I don't know if renovation will be done in time for our project. We talked about this today. We found out by experience just a year ago that when it was said our roof and meeting room would be done in 9 business days, it took 3 weeks. Nothing seems like it goes according to the PLAN. And...Sherry and I won't get to work the Bookmobile after all. Neither one of us wants to shovel snow.

About Westernport Renovation

The renovation of the Westernport
branch will enrich library users’
experiences by creating a floor plan
designed to be welcoming, warm, and
easy to navigate, while improving the
ability of staff to fully monitor the
entire facility.
New paint and carpet will be used
in schemes that improve the look and
feel of the whole library, as well as
defining the usage of specific spaces
within the building. Upgrades to
current shelving will match the new
interior design and color scheme, and
new or refurbished furniture will
further define spaces that add interest
and enhance the comfort of all users
Modern and energy efficient lighting fixtures will
improve the lighting in the facility and broaden the
appeal of the space. Furthermore, the out-dated
electrical wiring will be upgraded throughout the
building to ensure the safety of our users. Finally, the
project creates the facility’s first safety system,
including smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire alarms,
pull-boxes, and the ability to remotely monitor the
facility.
The combination of these improvements will
result in a brighter, more inviting, and colorful place
that is warm and welcoming. The improvements also
will ensure the safety and sustainability of the
facility, so that it can continue to be a vibrant center
of the community that promotes learning, encourages
social interaction, and lifts the human spirit.
The Westernport branch in its current state is
a considerable community asset. In a town of a little
over 2,100 people, it sees over 2,000 visitors a
month. The branch is open six days a week, checks
out over 4000 items, and hosts nearly 300 children
each month at its numerous story hours.
Our most recent renovation saw an increased
usage of 11% at the improved facility, and we expect
a significant jump following this renovation, as both
first time and return users linger and make the most
of the many library services we offer.
Renovation of