It's getting closer...

When we first started this expansion and remodeling project, it seemed like we would never return home. In December of 2007, we were looking at about an 18 month project, and the future was impossibly hard to see. Now, 15 months later, time seems to have both flown and crawled by. I can't believe we are looking at moving back in July. We all have such mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, we are positively giddy at knowing we shall soon be back in a proper library, with the latest technological (and plumbing!) advances. On the other hand, oh my, is there a lot of work still left to be done!

Staff is very hard at work attempting to pull together all the myriad little details that go into moving a library. You'd think that having done it so successfully in 2007, we'd be able to just reverse the process. However, it's kind of like getting map quest directions. They work if you are going from point a to point b, but trying to follow them from b to a does not work. (Trust me, I once navigated us into a cranberry bog in Canada doing that!)

So, while we are pulling out the last of our hair, and wondering if botox for all our worry wrinkles are covered under our insurance, the hard working crew at the site has been plowing ahead. They are still pulling miles and miles and miles and miles of cable for all our data needs. Painting is going on in the older part of the building, with the newer section slated to start soon.

Cabinet installation is still happening, and we are all excited to see that our staff areas are really taking shape. In the very near future we hope to have the final pour of the stained concrete floor in the entry way. In the new Library Program Room, the huge wide-screen movie screen is installed -- soon to host many family film and foreign film nights.

On the outside of the building, the really cool metal panels are going up. They are made up of recycled materials, and are tongue and grooved to go together very quickly. I wasn't sure about them at first, all I could envision was the glare off of really shiny metal, but they are finished with a matte finish, and look very nice.

Keep an eye out for more information as we get closer to moving back home. We are planning a blowout celebration in (hopefully) early August that will include tons of local performers. We are also working on several really cool programs to present when we get back into our home.

On a personal note --- I would like to congratulate my co-worker and my friend, Lisa Adams, for being the recipient of the 2009 WALE employee of the year. WALE stands for Washington Association of Library Employees, and is an interest group of the Washington Library Association. The WALE employee of the year must demonstrate outstanding service in their field, and significantly contribute to the betterment of the library. Lisa has done this for many years with her innovative programs like the library sleepovers, family film nights, craft shows, ladies night at the library, and so much more. She is always up for any idea, no matter how crazy, and always manages to make us laugh. She's funny, big hearted and as my grandfather would have said "good folk". Congratulations Lisa, you deserve this!

Theresa