Date: Fri 26-Dec-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-opening

Full Text:

Library Grand Opening Is Sunday, January 11

BY DOROTHY EVANS

The Cyrenius H. Booth Library will reopen soon after the dawning of the 1998

New Year. Very soon after.

"We are going to open at some time during the week of January 5, and we're

committed to doing it as soon as possible," said Kathy Geckle on Monday

morning, December 22.

Mrs Geckle, speaking on behalf of the Library Board of Trustees, said also

that the Legislative Council would be able to hold its regular meeting at the

newly renovated 25 Main Street building on Wednesday evening, January 7.

Of course, Mrs Geckle added, there are a million details still to be

accomplished, such as putting back furniture, plugging in computers, hanging

antique pictures, arranging art objects, polishing brass andirons, hanging

mirrors, and shelving the remaining books.

But her optimistic tone conveyed the assurance that there was nothing on that

list that could not be completed by the end of the week, at the latest.

On Saturday night, January 10, the once-cancelled Gala celebration, originally

planned for November 22, will take place from 7 to 11 pm.

And on Sunday, January 11, the library will hold its Grand Opening and ribbon

cutting ceremony between 1 and 5 pm. The official ribbon cutting will be

attended by library staff and town officials, including First Selectman Herb

Rosenthal and former First Selectman Bob Cascella.

Her Wish Granted:

Two COs Before Christmas

With two permanent Certificates of Occupancy (CO) safely in hand (the town CO

came Friday, December 19, and the borough CO was granted Tuesday, December

23), Cyrenius H. Booth Library Director Janet Woycik is wearing a broad smile

as she rallies staff and volunteers to action.

There is plenty to do in order to get the library ready for opening "sometime

during the week of January 5," and they are determined to do it despite the

dwindling numbers of available work force that usually accompanies the holiday

season.

"Nothing is going to stop us now," said Mrs Woycik, though "we're still

waiting for a few book shelves to come in," she added.

Meanwhile, volunteers Pat Denlinger, Kathy Geckle and Caroline Stokes were

busy with the Windex and the brass polisher, wiping a year's worth of dust off

the old furnishings that have been stored safely someplace else during the 17

months that it has taken for the massive library addition and renovation

project to be completed.

"We're chugging!" said energized library staff member Juanita Fisher as she

and her co-workers busily went about their tasks.