Everything's a Jumble

Maybe you've noticed that things are changing around the library. Maybe you've gone looking for reference help upstairs only to find that the librarian's desk is gone. In fact, you may be surprised to find that those great study tables are disappearing too!

Or maybe you've come in to use our wireless and noticed that the tables by the east windows and those handy electrical outlets has been taken by a staff desk.


You may have even tried to go down to the Literacy office to talk to Diane about tutoring and seen piles of boxes. So many boxes that you could barely make it into the room.


"Agggh! What's happening to my library?" you may ask as you rake your fingers into your hair and pull it in frustration.

Don't worry. Let go of your hair before it's all pulled out, take a deep breath and relax, then repeat after me - "It's only temporary."

That's right. For about six months we're all going to be a little more cramped than usual and we'll all feel like some things and some people aren't in the right places. You may even feel like the the library books you want are inconvenient to get. For a little while the library might seem all jumbled.

"What's going on?" you might ask.

The Carnegie Building, which was built in 1915 will be getting a much needed seismic upgrade with financing through a federal grant.


When everything's finished sometime next summer the Carnegie should be a safer place for you and your children. We've all been told that an earthquake is a question of "when" not "if" and with a building structure from 1915 you can imagine how much will have changed in building standards over the years.

It'll be a big change for everyone. The librarian in charge of non-fiction has been going through a bit of an environmental shock.

She's having to get use to sitting in the middle of wizards, dragons, killers, amateur sleuths, some pretty steamy lovers, and other fictional characters instead of the historians, scientists, sociologists, doctors, cooks, gardeners, and the other experts she's used to hanging around. If you walk by an she looks a little frazzled, you'll know the characters have been getting to her again. Maybe the dragons are breathing a little too much fire - or is it the lovers? Whatever the case, an encouraging smile might help her make it through.

She won't have the usual books at her fingertips. Most of them will be in storage. Luckily we will have some access to them. They'll be stored in the partially finished Academy building.

You won't be able to browse the stacks like before, but you can browse on our online catalog. You can request books in advance and library staff will have scheduled times to go and retrieve requested books.

So with a little extra planning you can still get the books you need. Remember, you can browse the library's catalog from home if you have the Internet. And if you have a password for your library card you can request them from home and the comfort of your pajamas and bedroom slippers. You'll be able to browse on your personal computer while sipping your favorite hot cocoa, coffee, or tea. See, it's not all bad.

If you don't have a password for you library account, now's a great time to get one. Just ask for one next time you're at the circulation desk.

For those of you who are missing the tables by the windows and the power outlets, help is on the way. Our reading corner has been rearranged and we now have three tables there. A few outlets already on the walls and we plan on getting some power strips put up to provide more.

When using the space please try to keep your cords as out of the way as possible and if you do have cord that may be in someone's path, please alert them to your cord. Some programs will also be taking place in this corner at night. The Adult Book Group, P/K (Parent/Kid) Book Group, Knitting Group, and the Writing Group will all meet in this area until the programming rooms area available again. And no, we will not have public meeting spaces for patrons to schedule during this time - sorry.

As for the Literacy Department, they've got a temporary home. It's small and most of their things will be in storage. If you're coming in the library, take a right to go into the children's area and straight ahead of you you'll see a desk that is facing a window. That desk will be the Literacy Department for the county until construction is complete.

We hope to lessen the impact and inconvenience on library patrons as much as we can during construction, but we may not be able to do everything we normally would be able to. Please bear with us and we can all look forward to spreading out a little in a safer library building next summer.

Elizabeth