By Pat Biancaniello
Without much fanfare, at 10 am Thursday morning, the Commack Branch of the Smithtown Library opened for business. By 10:15 am the parking lot was almost full.
The library, which first opened in 1967, was closed in January 2010. The unscheduled closing was due to a puff back in the boiler. During the fifteen months that the library has been closed the interior has been remodeled and updated. A three thousand square foot addition has been added. An entirely new children’s room was developed using fifteen hundred square feet of the new space.
Artist Jeff Fisher was commissioned to paint murals on the walls of the children’s room giving the room a sense of wonder and intrigue. Everything from the ceiling tiles, carpeting, tables, computers, and the colors, were chosen to allow the children to connect with their surroundings.
Library director Robert Lusack was determined to provide space for the young adult or teenage population, which he calls “the forgotten age group”. Seating and a work area were created to allow young people to work together or independently within their own space.
The outside of the building has changed as well. There is a new vestibule and covered portico entrance in the back. There are outdoor benches, and there is a shiny new book deposit and reserved parking for energy efficient vehicles.
Board members Sauer and Vallone were very pleased with the library saying that it exceeded their expectations. They were quick to point out some important features. The library meets all ADA requirements, which is very important to patrons with special needs. There is a working elevator, a self-checkout, and new windows and lighting. A 55-inch flat screen TV donated by Avon Press has been installed and the building has Wi-Fi.
“The goal was to make the building nearly seamless. The architect, Roger Smith of Burton Behrendt Smith, did better than that… he made it seamless” said Robert Lusack.