Date: Fri 24-May-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Library-renovations-project

Full Text:

Library Will Stay Put During Renovations

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

The high cost of moving, renovation, and rent has thwarted plans to move the

Cyrenius Booth Library to a temporary location while the addition is being

built. The Library Board of Trustees voted May 21 to remain on Main Street,

because it seems to be the best possible situation, according to Board

President Gordon Williams.

"We will have to be closed a little bit longer than we would have, had we

moved out," he said. "But it will save so much money and we really want to

stay within budget. So that's a positive aspect. The builder and architect are

both cooperative and that's another positive."

Mr Williams admitted it will be noisy and somewhat dusty, but compared to the

alternatives, he feels the board made the right decision.

"I'm sorry that it's going to incovenience people," said Library Director

Janet Woycik. "To help accommodate patrons the library will increase the video

circulation period from one to two days, allow telephone renewals, and check

out materials for four weeks when the library is closed."

If work continues on schedule, the library will close for three weeks at the

end of June/beginning of July, three weeks at the end of August/beginning of

September, and five weeks next spring at the end of construction. "It's due to

be completed in May - just in time for the 200th anniversary of Cyrenius

Booth's birth!" said Mrs Woycik.

Remaining on site during construction was always an option for the library,

according to First Selectman Bob Cascella, who headed the effort to find an

interim facility. "We toured Fairfield Hills campus and unfortunately the two

buildings that would have been available needed a considerable amount of

repair and renovation work," said Mr Cascella.

Four years ago, when writing the state grant, library board members knew the

campus would be closed and thought they would be able to use a building for

one year at little cost. But the buildings proved to be in such disrepair they

were forced to consider other available facilities in town.

"Fabric Fire Hose owners were gracious enough to offer space, but it was more

costly than we figured as part of the original plan," said Mr Cascella. The

former Dual Lite location was not acceptable to the building inspector because

it wasn't up to fire code; access was also a problem, according to the first

selectman. "We thought we were going [into the old A&P] - Joe Kasper was going

to give us a really, really handsome deal on rent but we would have had to

upfit ourselves. And that didn't make sense from a financial standpoint."

Any option would have cost at least $100,000 and that wouldn't have been

fiscally responsible to taxpayers, said Mrs Woycik. The board agreed, however,

to place the library's antiques in storage during construction, as originally

planned, she added.

Parking problems on Main Street may be alleviated if the owners of the Hawley

Manor and former Yankee Drover site allow library patrons to park on their

property, said Mr Cascella, who intends to pursue the idea. "We do it on Labor

Day weekend," he said. "That should be a significant amount of parking for the

library."