The Castleton Branch of the Cramahe Township Library was open on November 17 - but only for an hour.The branch closed last year to accommodate renovations to the Castleton Town Hall where it is located. It is not expected to re-open until the new year.
Cramahe Library Board Chair Ed Greenwood stated in a phone interview on November 19 that there is too much to do before the library opens to expect an earlier opening. Those who attended the open house on Tuesday will have noticed the computers were not set up yet. The wiring is in place for wireless internet service in the library and Jim Robinson has been hired by the board to connect them, but it will take time.
Mr. Greenwood was hoping the signal from the library would be strong enough to allow people to use the internet connection from the parking lot during off hours. But he thinks the current set up won't allow that.
There is no checkout desk. One has been located but it has not been assembled.
Staffing is the main issue.
Another staffer will be needed and there is the question of the CEO position, now held temporarily by former board member Peggy Klem. It is not clear at this time if Ms. Klem is interested in the permanent position and the board may wish to advertise before making any decision on the post.
At the open house on Tuesday the need for better lighting on the south side of the library was discussed. And details about the Heritage Room will need to be worked out.
Mr. Greenwood realises that there is a lot to be done by the six board members. He hopes to see board membership increase as this will help lighten the load. Most of the shelving and preparation for the opening was done by Ms. Klem and Peggy Malcolm, Southern Ontario Library Services Consultant.
More photos from the open house Castleton Library Open House
Havnig been part of the Library Committe I would have attended the Open House ... if I'd been aware there was one.
ReplyDeleteEven though it may be the new year before the library is open, staffing is not the issue holding things up. Right now there are trained staff ready to do their shifts in Castleton. Unfortunately the library space has not had its final inspection, nor are the shelves fixed to the walls, nor are the computers hooked up including the circulation one, nor are a number of other items fixed or finalized before the library can open its doors. All these "to do's" take inordinate amounts of time to address due to the number of people involved in actually doing them, people who have busy schedules. As soon as the health & safety issues are addressed and the circulation computer is operational, the Board will announce the actual opening of the library. In the meantime, the library staff are eager and waiting to get to work in Castleton.
ReplyDeleteMarie Prins
Treasurer of Library Board