On July 1, the Cary Memorial Library officially started construction on the Children’s Renovation Project (ChiRP). This project entails the renovation of the library’s lower level, including the Children’s Room, bathrooms, and meeting rooms. Along with these changes, there have also been updates regarding outdated systems, like the HVAC (climate control) system.
Minor changes have also been made to the upper levels so that the library can continue to run. These changes include moving the library’s collection of books around, altering where staff work, and modifying library hours.
“We are currently open from four to nine, Monday through Thursday, and closed all day Friday, because we are in the demolition phase of the project. During that time, we can’t let the public into the building for safety, but it’s also incredibly noisy, and there’s always a chance that electricity or water could get cut,” Laura Bernheim, Deputy Director at Cary Library, said.
As a result of these changes, students who prefer studying at the library must adjust accordingly. Many noted feeling disrupted in response to the new library hours.
“I think the construction, from my limited perspective, has not taken into account the massive toll it is taking on frequent library users. It’s not consistently open, the schedule changes weren’t super well posted and they were made abruptly without community input,” Mirei Saneyoshi, a senior at Lexington High School, said.
Furthermore, the construction has reduced the already limited amount of space, overcrowding the remaining spaces.
“Especially on half days, the middle schoolers and high schoolers will go to the library to hang out in the Teen Room. I haven’t been there this year because of the construction, since I know that it’s gonna be super crowded and there’s limited space,” Emily Zhou, a senior at LHS, said.
Despite these changes, the community has managed to be flexible and work around the library’s new schedule. During the construction, there have been new methods to ensure that different programs run smoothly.
“In terms of programming, both Children, Teen, and Adult [programming staff members] have worked pretty hard to develop partnerships with various places in Lexington. There is also a place for virtual programming, and we have upped our budget for things like Kids Cooking Green, which is a virtual cooking class,” Michelle Techler, the Library’s Teen Services Manager, said.
LHS students have also found solutions to adapt to these new hours.
“At the beginning [of construction], it was really destructive, just because I didn’t know what I was gonna do or how I was gonna [study]. But now it’s better because I’ve found a routine. I always go to the school library and then walk to the Cary Library after,” Maile Tom, a sophomore at LHS, said.
Throughout the construction process, there have been many changes, yet the library staff and the Lexington community have stayed strong.
“Lexington is so supportive of the library, it’s really gratifying. People have been very understanding,” Bernheim said.
