8 The Dallas Post
Dallas, PA
Wednesday, February 21, 1996
NS
Space
(continued from page 1)
So, this is based on an estab-
lished need.”
. Several considerations must be
accommodated in the children's
library, which now consists of a
24' by 30’ former classroom in the
building that was once the Dallas
Borough High School. That space
is packed with about 12,000 vol-
umes, fewer than hall of which
are able to be stacked where they
are accessible to younger chil-
dren. Display cases, tables and
other items also are crammed in
the limited space.
One result of the crowding has
‘been a limit on the number of
children in programs such as story
hour. Twenty youngsters, with a
parent or two and perhaps a sib-
ling for each, is the limit for a
session, and even multiple ses-
sions often are oversubscribed.
Older children frequently use
the library for research on school
projects, and they need space —
and quiet — all their own. Add the
steadily-increasing importance of
technology, and it quickly becomes
apparent that the library isn't able
to meet the needs of ils young
patrons.
The solution will be a two-level
addition of about 50’ by 24’, ex-
tending parallel to Huntsville Road
off the northwest corner of the
building. Rodda foresees the up-
per floor, which will be at the level
of the present first floor, divided
into three zones of roughly equal
size, separated by shelving that
can be moved to change the di-
mensions if necessary. The lower
level will be handicapped-acces-
sible and can become a perma-
nent book store, as well as the
book booth area during the an-
nual auction.
The renovations won't be en-
tirely restricted to the children’s
room. “There's a whole stack of
things in foment here,” Rodda said.
While they're at it, he plans to
revamp the circulation area, add-
ing a private office for the librar-
ian and improved work spaces for
employees and volunteers. New
lighting and air conditioning in
the new wing and the circulation
area will make the rooms more
pleasant. And, “We'll be button-
ing up all the new construction so
it's energy-efficient,” he said.
Stager, who handed over the
board presidency to Ruth
Tetschner this year, is stillamem-
ber of the design team and serves
on the building committee. While
a grant will help, he knows there's
a long way to go. “It's a gigantic
undertaking,” he said, and one
that he hopes will draw the com-
munity together. “I think we're
going to get a good community
response; at least I hope so.”
Stettler
(continued from page 1)
pleased that people have recog-
nized this need in the community,
and have responded,” Stettler, who
lives at Newberry Estate, said.
John Gager is the vice chairman
~ of the capital campaign.
Stettler was himself recruited
by Bruce Rosenthal and Durelle
Scott III, who are co-chairmen of
a steering committee charged with
bringing the ambitious project to
completion. “Bruce has done an
absolutely fantastic job,” Stettler
said. “It's exciting to see a volun-
teer who gives as freely and gener-
ously as he does.” :
Bricks and mortar may be the
fundamental building blocks of
the project, but new technology
ranks close behind for Stettler.
He wants to raise enough money
to add computers and software
‘the patrons will find useful. “The
kids will grow as comfortable with
a computer as my generation was
with a telephone,” he said.
Rosenthal is equally commit-
ted to the library's mission. “I
think the role of a library is to
meet the needs of the community,
and in our area a big part of that
is children,” he said. The cam-
paign is aptly named “Building
Our Children's Future.”
When finished, the children’s
area will expand to nearly 2,000
square feet, nearly triple the ex-
isting space. It also will include
increased shelf space within
children’s reach, expanded seat-
ing, computer stations and open
areas for displays and perfor-
mances.
Once community fund raising
meets its goal, which Stettler
hopes will be this fall, the library
will apply for a state /federal grant.
If that money reduces the cash
requirements of the building
project, excess funds will be allo-
cated into an endowment fund,
the income from which will be
dedicated to children's room over-
head and services.
Contributions may be pledged
over a three-year period. The li-
brary will invite all service organi-
zations and interested individu-
als to help meet the program goal,
and welcomes comments and
ideas from its friends and pa-
trons.
Staff looks ahead to better
facilities, more programs
Two people who know the Back
Mountain Memorial Library's
children’s facilities intimately are
delighted with plans for new and
renovated space.
Library director Martha
Wheeler pointed out that one goal
of the expansion is to allow more
than one activity to take place at
the same time in the children’s
area. “It will be big enough to
accommodate programs while
other patrons are using the facil-
ity,” she said.
Even the youngest library us-
ers are stretching the present
space. A program in which adults
read to 2-year-olds has been grow-
ing, and was recently split into
two groups.
Marilyn Rudolph has been
children’s librarian since 1971,
when the library was still in its
~ original home on Main Street. She
anticipated the need for more
space when the library moved to
its present quarters in 1985. “I
foresaw lots of young families
moving to the Back Mountain from
the valley,” she said, and hoped
for more space. But, overall, she
said the children’s section fits into
about the same area today as it
did 20 years ago.
That has often presented prob-
lems. “We have to turn people
away in the summer,” during story
hours, she said. “That's been an-
noying to our patrons.”
~ Rudolph is a great believer in
introducing children to the library
at a young age. “I'm thrilled be-
cause I think this is where library
habits begin,” she said.
Programs and needs vary with
the years, Rudolph said. “We've
had a lot of 2-year-olds around
lately,” she said, echoing Wheeler's
comment. But the number of chil-
dren in any age group can change
greatly from year to year, so pro-
grams must be flexible.
One large group she recalled
was 65 Lake-Lehman fifth grad-
ers who paid an introductory visit
to the library and filled the
children’s area to the seams.
That's an age group Rudolph
hopes to attract more to the new
facilities, with space to relax and
explore.
Rudolph also would like to add
programs, such as crafts and skill
sessions with adult leaders, which
are out of the question now.
As for the proposed lower level,
Wheeler also said about $2,000 is
derived each year from used book
sales of paperbacks and “semi-
current” hard cover volumes.
Many of the sales are made pos-
sible when donated books are used
to replace existing, worn copies.
“That's a wonderful thing,” she
said, and helps keep the collec-
tion in better shape.
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(continued from page 1)
$31,000 on manpower and mate- |
rials for snow removal in Janu-
ary, Sutton reported. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) will probably reimburse
eligible costs for 72 hours of
snowplowing for the January 7
storm and 48 hours for the Janu-
ary 12 storm, he added.
“Almost all of that was overtime
for our guys," he said. .
Sutton planned to attend a |
meeting with FEMA February 21 |
tolearn more about its reimburse-
ments for snow removal expenses.
However FEMA hasn't contacted |
him about flood damage yet, he |
|
|
said.
Cragle also said that when the
township's new dump truck ar-
rived three months early at
Sherwood Chevrolet, the dealer
let the township take it without
paying for it. The supervisors
unanimously voted to make a.
partial payment of $28,000 from
the road machinery account. The
balance due willbe $21,934, which. |
the supervisors said they will pay
off as soon as possible.
Paul Rodda, who will
design the new children's
wing for the Back
Mountain Memorial
Library, handed a pen to
Joseph Stager, president
of the library board,
seated, as Spencer
Martin, engineer, looked
on. With the contract
sighed, actual design of
the addition can proceed.
Tell our advertisers you saw
them in The Post. They'll be
glad you did, and so will we.
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