Library Committee Shows Off New Bookcases

Contributed by Julia Freeman

Thanks to a grant from the Collington Foundation, the old Biography Room in the library has been transformed to the the Biography Room and More with the purchase of all new bookshelves for the room. The room will be one of the featured projects in the Celebration of Giving hosted by the Collington Foundation on Wednesday, October 16, from 2-4 PM.

The old bookshelves were largely in disrepair. With a team effort by library committee members, a grant application for new bookcases was written. After the grant was awarded, new bookcases were ordered, the books in the room were packed and stored, the room painted, and the carpet cleaned.  The new bookcases arrived on September 12 and were installed by the store, Room and Board. Barbara Fairchild, chair of the Library Committee, organized committee member volunteers to unpack the books and place them in the new bookshelves. The room was ready on September 26^th.

The new bookcases have offered a big bonus. Because they are sturdy and actually accommodate the books, there is now much more space for books. Some of the small collections from the main library room have been added to the room, hence the new name Biography Room and More. The new bookcase project is now complete. However, the space made available in the main room is leading to changes in where various collections are housed – a work in progress.

Barbara Fairchild acknowledges the special help of many members: John and Helen Hindinger and Dorothy and John Barker for measuring the room initially, determining the optimal size and arrangement for new bookcases, and obtaining the cost quotation from Room and Board; Bill and Nancy Lively for packing the books for storage; Dick Garrison for adding all the shelves to the bookcases; Jessica Milstead for labels for the re-located collection; Pat Johns for the signage outside the room entrance; for all the many people who helped re-locate the small collections to the room and other areas of the Library and to Julia Freeman for writing the grant and report. Rob Reigle, Assistant Director of Facilities, arranged to have the boxes stored. He also had the old bookcases removed, the carpet cleaned, and the walls painted.