Library renovation complete — the upstairs is open!
Barrington Public Library celebrating renovated second floor
Eden Beckman's shopping cart was packed with books, but that did not stop her from pulling more and more colorful titles out of the bins inside the children's room at the Barrington Public Library.
Two-year-old Eden seemed quite content to test the limits of the miniature shopping cart, and her brother, five-year-old Wyatt, was happy to help.
The children's room librarians say the tiny shopping carts are very popular with the children, as are many of the new additions inside the library's recently-renovated second floor.
During a tour of the second floor last week, children's room librarian Mary Harty pointed to an oversized ottoman surrounded by packed bookshelves. She said children love to get books and lay on the furniture, just relaxing while they read.
Ms. Harty explained how some of the furniture and other features were not initially included in the plans for the renovated children's room, but were added later into the project. Ms. Harty said she found the shopping carts on Walmart.com. She said she had to negotiate a bit for the extra large ottoman.
The completely-renovated second floor of the town's public library will be on display during a special celebration on Sunday, Sept. 24, but many people have already experienced the new digs. In fact, story time book readings have tested the capacity of the new program room, which is located toward the western end of the children's room.
The new program room is equipped with comfortable chairs and a kitchen. Tables can be arranged to allow for fun crafts, and then stored away to leave the room uncluttered.
There is a fun space located just outside the program room. It is filled with bins of books, comfy seats, shelves packed with toys and, a few feet away, a wall-mounted activity center. Barrington Public Library director Debbie Barchi said the "learning center" is very popular.
"The kids love this," she said.
"I'm enchanted with the children's room," she added. "If I were a child I would never want to leave."
The entrance to the children's room was also relocated, and now greets people as they reach the top of the stairs or exit from the elevator. There's also a new glass statue installment — "Tidewater" by artist Michele Gutlove features colorful glass arctic terns soaring above the children's room doors.
The children's room — it is dedicated to the McCulloch family, which served as a key donor for the project — is only part of the second floor renovation.
There are also new meeting rooms, a new tech-services space, a lounge for library staff, offices, and just east of the children's room, is the Salem Family Auditorium. Ms. Barchi said the renovated auditorium features new lighting and sound systems and a new projector. There are all new seats and an entirely new green room that has an electric lift. Ms. Barchi said the Rhode Island Council for the Arts sponsored the lift.
"The auditorium is really, really nice," Ms. Barchi added.
The renovation work also included separating the auditorium from the gallery space located behind the auditorium. Officials wanted to make it possible for the two spaces to host separate events at the same time. Now that is possible.
"This is exactly as I envisioned it," said Ms. Barchi.
Open house is Sunday, Sept. 24
The Barrington Public Library will host an open house dedication for the completion of the second floor renovation.
• When: Sunday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Where: Barrington Public Library, second floor
• More: There will be a performance by Ben Rudnick and Friends, in the Salem Family Auditorium
