Renovations are underway to restore a storytime room turned storage space to its former glory.
Allison Park-based Landau Building Co. crews have been working since January replacing the ceiling, lighting, flooring, furniture and more in the second-floor children’s department of the Sewickley Community Library.
The work is part of a $170,000 reconstruction of a room that has not been properly used since the covid-19 pandemic, library head of development Michelle Cleary said Feb. 11.
About 200 people — children and families — would use the space weekly prior to the pandemic. Programs were then moved to a much larger community room to allow for social distancing.
“We were just trying not to be in tight spaces,” Cleary said. “Suddenly we were like, ‘Huh. We don’t really want to come back into this space.’ This whole room was subdivided. It was very hard to fit a lot of people in here, and the carpet was old and needed some refreshment. It was kind of spurred by the pandemic that we realized it’s time to redo this in a way that makes it more functional.”
The room was used as a storage space and a hub for take-home craft bags during covid-19.
“We were sending a lot of programming out because during the pandemic we couldn’t serve as many people in the building, or people didn’t want to come in the building with masking and all that stuff,” Cleary. “This was sort of a manufacturing space to prep all that.”
Cleary praised the work of Jen Farmerie, head of children’s services, and her team for their efforts during that time and supporting reconstruction.
Farmerie said they were hoping to do some kind of revamp to the room years ago, but those plans were put on hold as the library made adjustments to changing health and safety protocols.
Another factor behind the need for a larger room renovation was the spike in library usage coming out of covid-19.
It welcomed 11,873 visitors last year with 410 in-house children’s programs — an increase in attendance of 36% compared to 2023.
There are several funding sources for the project, with Friends of the Sewickley Public Library covering about 30% of the bill. Remaining funding is provided by The Raymond C. and Martha S. Suckling Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
The library has also applied for one other local grant and is still awaiting notification of its potential award.
It’s unclear how much money was being sought and what its use for the storytime room will be.
The room was previously shelved off, which limited space for certain programs. There was a makeshift town with several buildings, including a bakery.
Flooring was split between a spotted white-and-light-blue checkerboard tile and a carpet with doodles of houses, animals, butterflies and kites.
More than a third of the room was used as classroom space.
Part of the layout at the time also had children with their backs to each other, making collaborative activities difficult.
New look
Artist renderings show a more open layout for the 700-square-foot space.
New amenities will include an 80-inch flat screen smart TV with a computer.
Library officials said it will help bring storytimes to life with illustrations, clips of books being read by the authors, PowerPoint presentations and could also be used for movie nights and other programs.
Lighting fixtures are being replaced with LEDs that can be dimmed and change color. Movable and stackable furniture is on order.
Other pieces of decor are nature-themed to give an outdoor feeling including seating made to look like tree trunks.
“We had to really think about who our audience was and how many different age groups really do use this room,” Farmerie said about its new design.
New larger cabinets and a sink were recently installed.
Most of the work is being done in the early morning to minimize program disruptions.
The goal is to have everything set for a late spring grand reopening.
Farmerie said she is really excited about a new washer and dryer being added so she doesn’t have to clean the stuffed animals, puppets, paint shirts and silk scarves at home.
Library board president Bernard John said he has reviewed the designs of the new room and is thrilled about its possibilities.
“It’s a more open concept, a more inviting layout conducive for how the children’s department uses space today,” John said.
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Library executive director Ruth Neely said the storytime room was first designed in 1999.
“While our current space reflects the best practices of its time, it no longer fully supports what we now know about early childhood education,” Neely said. “By reimagining and updating our storytime room, we can create a dynamic, open and inclusive environment that nurtures curiosity, collaboration, and connection — helping every child learn and grow in a way that meets the needs of today’s world.”
Popular programs will return and some may be added to the storytime room once construction is complete.
They include Dog Tales, a literacy program with certified service dogs; Sensory Shenanigans, specialized activities for youths with sensitivity concerns; a chess club; a Lego club; preschool storytime and Stories in Art with the Sweetwater Center for the Arts.
More information about library programs is available at sewickleylibrary.org.