YOUNG READERS' ROOM REOPENED AFTER 4½ YEARS

by Vicki Varick, Director
Aaron Cutler Memorial Library, Litchfield
www.cutlerlibrary.blogspot.com

The Aaron Cutler Memorial Library held an open house on March 20th to celebrate the grand reopening of the Florence C. Center Young Readers Room. Helping us celebrate were Mr. Phil the Magician who twisted balloons for kids, Amelia Bedelia (played by patron Debbie Nordyke) who read one of her stories, and Steve Blunt who played guitar and sang with the children. Thanks to an anonymous donor, each child was also able to take home a new book. All in all, 276 residents filed in and out of the library during the 3½ hour event. Patrons, staff and trustees were thrilled with the turn out, the program, and the newly reopened space.

Located on the lower level of Litchfield's public library, the Young Readers Room had been closed for 4½ years following flood damage in August of 2003. What initially looked like a simple job of carpet replacement turned into a much more complicated project when it was soon discovered that the basement floor was really a wooden platform built over concrete. Water had flowed under the entire platform requiring its complete removal. Further, it was later discovered that the concrete floor beneath had been encapsulated for lead paint in the mid-90's, and the encapsulation had been destroyed. All in all, the project required much engineering and two warrant articles: one to correct drainage issues around the building, and one to reconstruct the lower level of the building. The first warrant made its way onto the ballot in 2005 to fix the drainage and was completed in 2006. At the direction of the Board of Selectmen, the second followed a year later in 2006 and was completed at the end of 2007.

During this 4½ years, other provisions were made for our younger patrons. Initially, arrangements were made with Library Director Toni Weller for Litchfield's children to have access to Hills Memorial Library in Hudson for the 2003-2004 school year. Then, when it became evident that the Young Readers' Room would not reopen in 2004, library staff boxed up half of the upper level of the library to make room for a temporary children's collection. This left roughly half of the adult collection and a third of the children's collection in storage, and no space available for popular children's programs such as Story Time, Kid's Club, and Make 'n Takes.

Following the completion of the reconstruction project, other improvements were made to the lower level using trust funds, impact fees, and an insurance settlement. These improvements include a fresh air exchange system, additional lighting and shelving, new window shades, and a replacement circulation desk. The result is a bright cheerful space for the birth through sixth grade crowd and their caregivers to enjoy books, programs, and each other.