Fishersville Library opens new doors on June 19

Edited by Chris Graham
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On Saturday, June 19, the Augusta County Library in Fishersville will welcome patrons through its new entrance. Facing Route 250, the main entrance will bring patrons into new and renovated space, including the former stage and reading garden.

In the eight months since the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2 of the building master plan, the center area of the library has been under construction. Library Director Diantha McCauley credits library staff and the community with keeping a sense of humor and a good perspective through the months of construction.

“Patrons and staff have been required to go outside the building and around the construction fence to get from the main section to the children’s wing,” McCauley said. “Everyone has endured noise and dust. The only available restrooms have been in the basement. Recently, the primary obstacle is a lack of air-conditioning on the main floor. We hope all of these inconveniences will become history next Saturday.

“We have made every effort to keep the library open for our patrons,” McCauley said. “However, in order to allow staff to get furnishings and materials moved and ready for Saturday’s opening, the main floor and basement will be closed on Friday, June 18. The children’s and young adult departments will be open, as usual, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.”

There will be no restroom access on the 18th. 

Beginning on the 19th, the back door into the children’s wing will be an emergency exit and no longer an entrance. All materials should be returned just inside the new main entrance. The area for returns is separate from the circulation desk.  

Phase 1, completed in March of 2008, consisted of a new addition to house the young adult and children’s collections, a special events room and additional computer stations. Phase 2 adds 1,985 square feet of new space and renovates 15,420 square feet of existing space.

Heating, air-conditioning and carpeting have not been replaced since the former Fishersville Elementary School became the library in 1983. 

Staff and book processing areas on the south side of the building will undergo renovation next, followed by renovation of the main floor (where the current circulation desk is located), with completion anticipated in the fall.

The project is being done by Nielsen Builders, Harrisonburg; Frazier Associates, Staunton; Ed Lazaran, Design Collaborative, Virginia Beach; and Pye Interiors, Charlottesville.

Information and photos are available on the website: www.augustacountylibrary.org.