Politics & Government

Avon Library Reopens in New Part of Building

Renovations have begun on the original building.

The pre-Halloween snowstorm may have turned off the power, but it did not stop the from reopening after Thanksgiving.

"It worked out," Avon Library Director Virginia Vocelli said on Nov. 28, the day the library reopened, nearly a week after the library received its certificate of occupancy.

While staff had hoped to reopen Thanksgiving week, it was publicly announced in October that the library would be closed Halloween to Thanksgiving so employees could pack and move into the addition.

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"We had that extra week built in because you don't know on either end of a move where you'll need time," Vocelli said.

So when the power went out on Oct. 29, the timing was somewhat convenient. Yet, the move was delayed from its original Monday start date due to the power outage. Some deliveries were also pushed back. Wireless is unavailable until around mid-December, Vocelli said, because of storm-related complications on Comcast's end. The personal computers are, however, connected to the Internet.

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"The site superintendent was still here everyday," Vocelli said. "When he was here, he got work done that didn't require power."

Many of the contractors had battery power tools. They disassembled the circulation desk two Wednesdays after the storm. They also cleared computers off the desks in the dark. William B. Meyer employees officially started moving things to the newer part of the building on Nov. 14.

The library was closed nearly a month.

"What's really fun is seeing residents coming in, seeing everything and being excited about it," Vocelli said. "When the old part is renovated, that's when people will say, 'Where is the old circulation desk?'"

Staff invited patrons to come in for refreshments and to see the new space, some of which is temporary during the renovation of the old library. The first to arrive, Tom McCabe, got to "cut the ribbon," which was actually yellow caution tape at the temporary entrance. Many people brought relatives and friends visiting on the holiday weekend to see the changes.

"It's been a constant flow all day. Everyone is with a smile," said Alice Pentz, library manager of adult and reference services, who was giving tours throughout the day. "Some are perplexed, like 'where am I?'"

The children and teen sections currently share space on the second floor. The teen section will be moved to the original building, on the other of the wall, once renovation is completed.

"It's very exciting. It's so much more spacious," said Avon resident Christine Winter, who was in the children's section with her daughter, Emmaline Howe. "There were a lot of creative ideas that will allow for fun programming."

Nonfiction and fiction are available on the first floor, but Pentz said that all fiction will eventually be moved to original library so that nonfiction is in its own section.

There is a temporary wall behind the current reference desk aligned with mystery books and that is where the permanent reference desk will be when the wall is removed at the end of renovation.

The History Room will be relocated from the second floor to the first in the original building so that it is more accessible. It is currently closed. The circulation desk and computer room will be nearby.

There is a new elevator in addition to the current one in the old library.

There is also a new community room on the first floor in the new section. It has a sliding partition so the room can be divided into two to accomodate two groups at the same time. The library's grand piano will be returned from its current resting place, the Simsbury Public Library, and will sit on a finished, hardwood floor-level stage.

The library's Thursday Movie Matinee will take place there after the project is finished. Instead of buying a screen that would be impeded by the partition, which runs through the middle of the movie area, that spot will be coated with a special type of paint as a surface for projector images and movies.

Programming at the library is limited, so staff is currently holding certain events, like the movie matinee, elsewhere, at places like the during the renovation.

Speaking of paint, the library has a touch of , former assistant director and current Newington library director. There are many purple walls on the first floor, Miller's favorite color and a shade that many people working on the project also liked.

Pentz was also proud of the new place for displays near the nonfiction section, which will be utilized to showcase the library's Civil War series in honor of the war's 150th anniversary.

There are many nooks with chairs, tables and desks in the library, as well as study rooms. Several of the work stations have Internet and power outlets.

"One thing people said we never had enough of was places to sit down and work," Pentz said.

Once the atrium is set up, patrons will have plenty of places to sit, with a nice view of the future library courtyard.

The library has many windows. The best view, Pentz said, is from the library board room upstairs, overlooking . The room may be open for select organizations to book.

For Vocelli, the library thus far exceeds her vision of how it would turn out. The entire project is roughly four to five months from completion, she said.

"I think when you see it, it's even nicer," Vocelli said.

The library will close again for two weeks once the renovated portion is completed as moving is completed. That date has not yet been determined.


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