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PAÉ12, WEDNESDAY" NOVEMBER 9,1977, WIHTBY FREE PRESS Library ren ovations to fintsh by March~ 1978; Will provide n'ew entrance area and auditorium By BRIAN WINTER Staff Writer By mid-march, 1978, the Whitby Public Library should expand into the mnain floor of the old town hall building, with an irnproved circulation desk system, and more ioom for carrying oniîts varions programns. Since Oct. 1, construc- tion workers have been ren- ovafing the main entrance by removing a portion of the staircase. Soi-e Library staff members and the public say the rubble looks like the Battle of Britain, but What will be a modemn lobby, com- plete with an elevator, and a central circulation tidesk, o both floors. In the 1977 capital budget the Town of WVhitby- provided $350,000 for the library renovations. 0f this àmoun t, $25,000 was taken for furnishings and matched by another $25,000 fromn Wintarîo. This rnoney will be used to purchase shelving, reading chairs, tables, peri- odical stands, atlas stands, record cabinets and othier 'I furnishings. Mr Chief Librarian, Ms Anne Hope-Brown says she hopes to obtain more Win- tario grants for graphics and supplies, but no applications have been made yet. Raymond Moriyamna, the architeet who designed the new municipal building on Rossland Road. is in charge of the renovations, and spent the summirer pre- paring plans. Construction is expec- ted to finish by March 1, and after the interior work is done, the expanded library should open by the middle of that mnolth. The main entrance to thie library wvill be fronm the parking lot at the southi side of' the -building, with a ramip leading in a graduaI slope to the basenment level to accomi- noae wheelchairs and handicapped people. The Duindas Street en- traiice xill be left in its orig- inal state. The soth entrance will be through a glassed-in vesti- bules, into a sçpaciouis lobby. At left wil1 be an elevator to the upper floor, and at riglit will be the rnqin circulation desk. The stairs at the north side of the building will re- main, and beneaýth theni will be a new set of washrooms. There will .also be ample display areas in the' vestfbtile. The administration and storage areas and the programi roonm in the east end of the building will rernain the samne, although the present staff lounge will becomne a circu- lation work roomn says Mrs. Hope-Brown. The lower floor of the building, west of the entrance will be for children's books, aduit fiction and browsing. The upper floor will be for non-fiction, reference and reading and study areas. Pull-down sliding metal gates will close off the main' library fromn the programn roomn and former council chamibers in the evcnings, SO the latter areas can be used by comnmunilty groups after regular library hours. The western third of the old council chamibers will becomie a separate rooni for the film departmnent, and the remnainder of thc chaînbers will becomie an auditorium with a stage and projection booth. The auditoriuim will be provided for the use of conmunity groups when there are no library programs in session. Mrs. Hope-Brown sees the work now going on in the ibrary as phas two in a pro- ject which will eventually re- quire an extension to the building, south of the main library area. She expects this expansion will be required in ive years at the Iatest. One problemn facing the library is that the upper floor cani take a weight Ioad of only I100 pounds per square foot, compared to 150 pounds per square foot which is usuat for a librar y Be cause of thfs, says M rs. Hope- Brown'the library is not able to accoÎnirnodaýte as rnany books ai' it would like. "tis isý quite an ex- citing lîbrary, 1 think," she says. - "lt's amazing how we vei been able to work-in proper library facilities in a building neyer designed to be a ibrary." Mrs. Hope-Brown apolo- gizes for the inconvenience ti library patrons during the ren. ovations. The building is pre- sently divided into two sec- tions, with the filmi depart- men t in the east end and the main library ini the West end. Since the main entrance is being rebuilt, patrons enter the main library by the west door, and the filmn depart- nment an(l prograni romr by the oast door. Mrs. l-ope-Brown says the renovations will provide functional attractive library and filcre4se library services to the People of \Vhitby. Chief Librarian Mrs. Anne flope-Brown stands in the middle of a pileof rubble'in the Whitby library's main en- trance to turn on the lights for the building. The main switch panel for the electrical system is in the area to be renovated, and the staff have to walk through a scène rem- iniscent of the Battie of Britain to turn on the lights. This is onîy temporary, for the renovations are expected to be completed by Marcb 1978. Free Press Photo 214 Dundas St. E. WhitbY 668 - 7797 Hours Mon*-Sat. & Evenings by Appcintmenît OnIy MBM Publishing & Photography Inc. I11Bock Ste. Ne' Whitby 668m611l Black ratent Silver & Gold The time is right VAM'reready and eager to show you the trémenÏdouS fashion-flair, fit and feel of Air Step shoesl Discover the beautiful comfort assoclated wlth Air Step ln each and every shoe of our terrific cal- lectiont We feature the latest styles, ail in your size. Treat yourself ta personal- ized service . .. Air Step fashion is anly moments away.. . stop In todayl $3O1* Black Patent arstep shoes KAM ME' MFOOT'WEARLTD. Whtbyi, WIIbý Semd ii:ik