North Garland Branch reopens after four months of renovations
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, July 1, 2007
By ALLISON WISK / The Dallas Morning News
awisk@dallasnews.com
For four months, the North Garland Branch of the Nicholson Memorial Library System was closed for renovations.
But now the high-traffic book repository is back. And it.s showing off a new look. The North Garland Branch revamp is part of Phase 1 of the 2004 bond package to renovate the library system.
Housed in a shopping center on Garland Avenue, the library had been untouched since taking over a former store.s space. A grand opening June 16 welcomed the community inside the reworked space.
Branch manager Vicki Chiavetta said the event was a success.
"The building itself had opened in 1992, so it had been 15 years since anything has been done to update it," she said.
The opening party featured a ribbon cutting, musical performances, arts and crafts, and a scavenger hunt.
"Everyone had a great time," Ms. Chiavetta said.
The transformation was relatively pain-free for the library.s staff.
"As for last-minute details, they were putting in furniture and wall coverings on the Friday before we opened, but that was about it," Ms. Chiavetta said.
In addition to the permanent murals funded by the Friends of the Nicholson Memorial Library, patrons can view Dallas photographer Peter J. Blackburn.s exhibit "Impressions of the Indefinitely Brief" through July 14.
The 16,500-square-foot library features a new floor plan by architecture firm PSA Dewberry, which also worked on library renovations in Plano and Richardson. Garland libraries director Claire Bausch and assistant director Dan Cunningham provided input on the project.
The redesign includes amenities like a kids. area with colorful carpeting and murals, four study rooms, a coffee vending machine and accompanying rest area, and wireless Internet access.
Wireless Internet was added to all Nicholson system branches this year.
"People are just now really discovering it and coming in and using their laptops," Ms. Chiavetta said. "And they stay longer."
The library.s circulation desk also has grown. With the addition of many new DVDs and books of interest to children and young adults, employees believe the younger set will make particularly good use of the face-lift.
"Oh, they just love it. They love the colors and the space and the way it.s been redesigned," Ms. Chiavetta said. "They.re just very glad that we.re open."
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