Officials Plan Temporary Relocation of Library to Town Hall

As work will soon begin on roof repairs at , town officials released a detailed plan for the temporary relocation of library services to the lower level of the Suffield Town Hall building. The library will close on Sept. 2 and the temporary location is scheduled to open on Sept. 12.

The temporary Town Hall facility will offer a reduced selection of materials. The collection will contain newer titles, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as a selection of children's titles and CDs, DVDs, and audio books. Newspapers, magazines, a selection of popular mystery titles, and some large print editions will round out the offerings at the Town Hall space.

The plan calls for six computers for patron Internet use. Programming such as storytime and lectures will not take place at the temporary library. The inter-library loan service will also be available, though access to the remaining Suffield collection will not be possible.

"Inter-library loan is extremely busy over here. The catalog will still be available on the computers, for people to get the books they want," said Library Director Jim McShane.

The library has created a service called Operation: Wizard, which will allow patrons to check out books for an extended rental period. Borrowers are encouraged to take out multiple books on a particular topic, and will have until January to return them. Patrons can ask librarians about the details of the program.

The Town Hall location will have abbreviated hours of operation. It will open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and possibly Saturday from 10 a.m to 1 p.m., depending on logistics with the town hall lock system.

Librarians will take the opportunity of the library closing to assist in the digitizing of the local history collection. Interior remodeling will also take place while the repair of the roof is underway.

A redesign of the stacks and children's area will proceed with the assistance of a local interior designer. Officials also plan to replace some carpeting in the existing library.

The lower level of Town Hall and conference room where the temporary facility will be located is also the designated site for the emergency center. Steps are being taken to make sure that in the event of an emergency, connections for phone lines and internet will not be blocked by the library materials.

First Selectman Tom Frenaye said he is working with the Emergency Management Director John Woods.

"We are trying to work around his needs," he said. "I don't anticipate a problem."

Voters rejected a bonding project for a new library earlier this year, creating the need for the renovation project.

Silktown Roofing of Manchester serves as the contractor on the project. The contract currently calls for completion within 100 days. Officials expect the project to be completed by the end of November and anticipate the library being reopened by the middle of December.

Frenaye acknowledged the move is not an ideal situation.

"I am sure it will be crowded, but its better than not being open," he said.