The Children’s Room at the Saratoga Springs Public Library will undergo an extreme makeover starting in early January.
According to Children’s Librarian Jennifer Ogrodowski, the renovation will take about six weeks and bring a whole new look and feel to the space.
“The idea is to give an outdoor feel to the indoors,” she said.
The renovation will cost around $400,000 and is scheduled to start Jan. 2.
During construction, the children’s library will be closed in order to complete the project as soon as possible. However, portions of the collection will be available in the first floor community room and children will be able to check out materials from there. Also, some of the toys and smaller tables will be available, “to make the children feel more at home,” said Ogrodowski.
During construction, the special programs run by the Children’s Room will still be offered. These include Family Story Time and Library Babies.
Among the planned renovations are new soft seating for adults and children to share, new comfortable seating for elementary school-aged kids, new shelving units, new carpeting and a new color scheme.
There will also be a new look to office spaces, with a new public desk that will be more immediate and allow all three staff members to assist and be visible. One of the desks is currently behind a pillar, where the view is obstructed.
Although the entire space will be renovated, a lot of the renovation will be focused in the Rainbow Room. That room will be expanded to accommodate an early learning and play area. The room will feature soft seating and interactive play spaces.
The construction is being funded in part by a grant from the Rotary Club, and the Friends of the Library donated a significant amount, as well.
Ogrodowski said she is excited about the expansion.
“I think it will be an opportunity for the library to be even more of a destination point for children and families,” said Ogrodowski. “Our hope is that we are creating an environment that children will come to enjoy. They will experience the materials and it will be a place to explore and learn and grow.”