Closed since March, Amherst library is ready to reopen with $5 million addition

AMHERST — Behind construction fencing, the Amherst Public Library's doors have been closed nearly four months. Residents will at last be able to step foot inside again following a grand reopening ceremony at noon July 11. "Everybody is really anxious to have patrons back in the building," library Director Don Dovala said. Librarians are also excited to show off a 7,500-square-foot, two-story addition to the Spring Street building's south side. The $5.6 million project started last summer, after voters overwhelmingly approved a 0.73-mill property tax increase for 15 years. The new area includes meeting rooms, study areas and an outdoor terrace. The addition allowed the entire library to be reconfigured with the second floor dedicated to children — that means kids can be kids, playing without any worry of disturbing older library users on the first floor. Dovala's staff has spent the last couple of months returning the library's collection of about 30,000 materials to the shelves. The last few boxes were finally emptied Wednesday. During the building's closure, residents have still been able to check out books and movies via a curbside service, and librarians have continued to offer notary public services, faxing and copying. "We're so excited that people are going to be able to start browsing again," library Public Relations Manager Becky Denes said. After the library reopens, a few finishing touches will still need to be added. Dovala said a divider wall for the community room will still have to be installed, as will radiators for heat at the front windows. Outside, a couple of lamp posts also will be installed, and the parking lot will need patched. But otherwise librarians are excited for the reopening party, which will include a ribbon-cutting and cake. While construction fences will start coming down Monday, the building will remain closed until the July 11 ceremony, Denes said. The library will be open until 8:30 p.m. that day, and normal business hours will resume July 12, she said. For the first week of regular business, there will be swag giveaways for the first 100 or so visitors, as well as special gifts for younger children. Denes said summer reading programs have been going strong even while the building has been closed, with story times moving to Amherst Township Park. Now she's looking forward to offering craft days, chair yoga and a beach glass class inside the library again. Denes also said she's planning an after-hours tour of the library on Saturday, July 16, complete with non-alcoholic mocktails. Patrons should also watch for the introduction of three new library card designs that will be available when the library reopens, Dovala said. One will bear the portrait of the original Carnegie section of the library, another with feature its logo, and a third will show the library's Quarry Bear mascot. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.