‘New’ library opens Monday

Thu, 10/27/2005 - 3:54pm
By: John Munford

Despite a cosmetic shelving problem and the lack of computer furniture for the upstairs area, the Peachtree City Library will fully re-open to the public Monday for regular operating hours, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at its former location next to City Hall.

‘New’ library opens Monday
The library’s downstairs area will be open Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. so patrons can pick up books they have placed on hold and place holds on other books, said Jill Prouty, who is coordinating the project. The downstairs computer lab, which has 11 computers for Internet access, will also be open Sunday; until the new computer furniture comes in, those computers will be the only ones that will have Internet access for the public, Prouty said.

The delay with the 23 computers planned for upstairs results from a shipping problem with the computer furniture, which was “stuck in customs,” Prouty said.

The library’s computerized catalog search system will be available on computers upstairs despite the furniture glitch, Prouty added.

The shelving problem is cosmetic in nature, as the bottom shelves sent from the manufacturer were too small, Prouty said. That means patrons will see the carpet until the new shelves are built and sent to the library, which could take about two weeks, Prouty said.

The shelves are bolted down and are safe, Prouty noted.

There has also been a delay with the “book browser” displays for the children’s section, which will result in having to squeeze a part of the collection until the displays come in, Prouty added.

Despite the delays, the library is destined to capture the fancy of many patrons. With multiple skylights throughout, a special translucent dome in the check-out area and a massive window with a view of Lake Peachtree, the new library lets in much more natural light than it previously did, Prouty said.

There’s a fireplace for a cozy reading spot and egg-shaped coffee tables. Another unique addition is the presence of two cell-phone booths so patrons can have private conversations indoors without disturbing others in the library’s quiet environment. Both booths have folding doors that are wide enough to be used by those in wheelchairs and walkers.

There is also a separate “teen area” with comfortable furniture that will also feature several computers with Internet access. There will be four computers in the children’s area that will be used for kids’ games, Prouty noted.

The children’s section also features interactive trees and other designs including an alligator to captivate the younger crowd.

The library also has a fairly significant number of new DVD titles to choose from, Prouty noted.

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