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December 31, 2008

Opening of Westville library edges closer

Gloucester County Times
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
By Siobhan A. Counihan
scounihan@sjnewsco.com
WESTVILLE It will be at least another month before the Westville Free Public Library reopens.

Library Director Gwen Carotenuto said that construction of the 1,270-foot addition is largely complete, but interior renovations are still being performed.

"We just received our new shelving the week before last, so we're still working on our interior renovations," Carotenuto said. "We still don't have a specific date to open yet. We figure it will be probably another month or so."

The library has been closed since late June, when construction of the $283,757 addition began. The addition has nearly doubled the size of the library.

The library was originally scheduled to reopen in the fall, but there had been setbacks due to permitting delays and changes in plans. The interior work was also delayed, since the shelving was only recently delivered, Carotenuto added.

"We had just recently gotten our shelving in, and we're in the process of really shifting things around in the library now," Carotenuto said. "So that's gonna take some time. There's still some work to be done. It's a work in progress."

Volunteers are scheduled to help with the rearranging after the New Year, Carotenuto said.

"We're still kinda mapping things out, where things are going to go," she said. "We're working on the whole space. We also got additional shelving in the old portion of the library, so that involved moving materials in that section of the library also."

Carotenuto said that despite the delay, the library staff is pleased with the new addition and excited for the public to benefit from the added space.

"It has increased our children's section," Carotenuto said. "There's more room now that we'll be able to conduct story hours. And we're pleased with the choices that have been made as far as the carpeting and shelving and these kinds of things.

"It's all a process," she added. "You have to figure out how things are going to work best, because we're not going to be able to do this again for a while."

The added shelving has also created more space "so things aren't as tight as they were," she added.

"It'll be much more comfortable for our patrons," Carotenuto said.

Carotenuto said that she, as well as the rest of the staff, are eager for the library to reopen.

"We're looking forward to it, and we're looking forward to seeing our patrons again," she said.

Posted by tumulty at December 31, 2008 1:50 PM

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