The Garden City Public Library is embarking upon the renovation project to update the children’s department. Planning for the renovation dates back to more than seven years. The renovation will include spaces oriented towards children’s learning programs—a reading room for story programs and a workshop for STEAM activities (Science Technology Engineering Art Math). The project will also incorporate a remodeled entrance area and front circulation desk. The board room in administration will be transformed into the office for the children’s department. The library administration and library board are striving to make these changes with minimal impact to the community, working with the village and H2M Architects and Engineers to transition into construction while minimizing impact to library users.
This past November, the village entered into an agreement with H2M Architects and Engineers to proceed with the next phases of the project: design development, construction documents, bidding and solicitation, permitting and construction administration services. This agreement established the creation of a “project team” named by the library and the village, which consists of Marianne Malagon, library director, Randy Colahan, chairman of the library board of trustees, Ralph Suozzi, Village Administrator, Giuseppe Giovanniello, Superintendent of the Building Department and Katie Stone, project architect from H2M Architects and Engineers. The team will oversee the project considering their unique perspectives, meeting regularly as a team and also in contact as needed on the project. H2M’s team includes additional architects and engineers adding their expertise to the project including architects Erik Heuler and Rabab Zia.
The renovation project impacts the footprints and operations of three library departments, children’s services, circulation and administration, as well as computers and networks managed by the computer support department. The library team consists of Barbara Grace, head of the children’s department, Joe Agolia, head of computer support, Jeanette Nicoletti, head of circulation, and Margaret Zulkofske, senior typist-clerk coordinating administration’s roles, who have met and continue to meet with the director every week to coordinate the relocation of their departments and services during construction.
The children’s department will be relocated to the large meeting room on the lower level of the library, with some materials located in storage on site. Staff has already begun to move some materials and create a floor plan for the new space. No programs have been displaced. The library will continue to provide virtual programs. On site programs have been suspended indefinitely due to the pandemic. The temporary children’s room will have librarians and other staff on hand to assist with materials and other information needs. The circulation department is also planning to move their work to another location in the library. This will be for a shorter period of time and plans will be announced. The schedule as well will be made clearer as the project progresses.
The community will be updated on progress and any changes in library services during the construction period. Check the library’s website at www.gardencitypl.org or call the library at 516-742-8405 for more information.
—Submitted by the Village of Garden City
