Photos by John Ellis Kordes

The Garden City Public Library Board Chair J. Randolph Colahan marked the completion of the Library's renovation and expansion project with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. Pictured from left to right are: Alan G. Roeckel, Library Director; John H. Pascal, Library Board Trustee; Barbara Brudie Martis, Library Board Trustee; Elizabeth Huschle, Library Board Trustee; Mr. Colahan; Gloria Weinrich, Library Board Vice Chair; and Tom Witt, Assistant Library Director. (All photos by John Ellis Kordes The Garden City Public Library hosted a Renovation Celebration on Saturday, April 19th to mark the completion of the Library's renovation and expansion project. Library Board Chair J. Randolph Colahan cut the symbolic red ribbon to welcome the public to the Library's new facilities, which include a redecorated periodical reading room, an expanded young adult area, and a new Audio-Visual Center and Computer Lab located on the lower level. The public was invited to visit the Library and see the many enhancements to the Library as well as to enjoy light refreshments following the official ceremony.

The Library's renovation project was initiated in response to community needs that were identified in 2003 through a series of focus groups. The Library's Board of Trustees, J. Randolph Colahan, Chair; Gloria Weinrich, Vice Chair; Barbara Brudie Martis; John H. Pascal; and Elizabeth Huschle, monitored the construction project along with Library Director Alan G. Roeckel and Assistant Director Thomas B. Witt and participated in the Renovation Celebration. Senator Kemp Hannon, Assemblyman Tom McKevitt, and Garden City Mayor Peter Bee were among the dignitaries who also attended. Former Mayor and former Library Trustee Frank Tauches, Village Trustee Donald Brudie, former Library Board Chair John M. Delany, and Village Trustee Nicholas Episcopia, who was also the liaison to the Library Board during the project, joined in the celebration. Garden City Friends of the Library President Salvatore Catania and Vice President Thomas Richmond were among several Friends who came to celebrate the special event.

Library aides and pages welcomed visitors to the Library's newly renovated facilities. Pictured are: (top row) Kristen Focella, Ashley Bressingham; (bottom row, left to right) Alison Heuser, Kristen Sweeney, Marybrett Fedele, Megan Auwarter, Alexandra Woehr, and Liane Mallon. Renovation Incorporates Suggestions

"Renovation ... A Time for Celebration!" The Library proudly announced the completion of its renovation with a cake and other light refreshments. from Focus Groups

In response to the suggestions emanating from the focus groups, the project included restoring the Adult Reading Lounge, which is now a brightly lit, comfortable reading room housing the periodical collection in a windowed section of the building at the corner of Hilton Avenue and Seventh Street. The Library enlarged the young adult department and installed four new computers with Internet Explorer (filtered), PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word, and a black and white printer for students in grades 6- 12. The teen and tween friendly area has soft, comfortable seating and tables and chairs for young adults to relax and read, or work with one another.

From left to right, Village Trustee Donald Brudie, Library Board Chair J. Randolph Colahan, Library Board Vice Chair Gloria Weinrich, New York State Senator Kemp Hannon, Library Trustee John H. Pascal, and Library Director Alan G. Roeckel are pictured in the Library's new Step Down Café vending area on the Library's lower level. In addition, a storage area on the lower level of the Library was converted into an Audio-Visual Center and Computer Lab with an increased number of Internet workstations. The size of the DVD collection has been increased and includes new foreign film offerings. The audio book collection has been increased with both new fiction and nonfiction titles on CD and cassette. In addition, the Library has introduced the Playaway, an iPod-sized, self-playing digital audio book, which is convenient for patrons to listen to while on the go. The Library also added a café area on the lower level for patrons to purchase and enjoy snacks and beverages, which are available from vending machines.

Visitors to the Library will notice redecorating and renovations throughout the Library. The lobby has automatic doors making for easier access for patrons of all ages. There is a newly furnished quiet study room near the reference department where the computer center had been located. The Children's Story Room has two hand-painted murals decorated with favorite storybook characters. In addition the Children's Room has added a Special Needs collection, including books in Large Print, on CD and cassette, DVDs, and games.

Garden City Mayor Peter Bee (left) toured the Library's new Audio-Visual Center and Computer Lab with (left to right) Alan G. Roeckel, Library Director, Tom Witt, Assistant Library Director, J. Randolph Colahan, Library Board Chair, and Joseph Agolia, computer support librarian. The Garden City Public Library opened on May 4, 1952 in its original location in a white clapboard house at the end of Seventh Street. The library's original book collection was less than 10,000 volumes. The library moved to the present building in 1973. Today the library has over 160,000 holdings, including books, periodicals, films and other audio-visual materials.

Library Director Alan G. Roeckel (left) and Library Board members Elizabeth Huschle (second left), Gloria Weinrich, vice chair, (second right) and J. Randolph Colahan, chair, (right) welcomed New York State Assemblyman Tom McKevitt (center) to the Library's Renovation Celebration.

Library Board Chair J. Randolph Colahan, (left) thanked Village Trustee Nicholas Episcopia (second left) for joining Library Director Alan Roeckel and Assistant Library Director Tom Witt (right) for the Library's Renovation Celebration. Staff members of the Library's renovation committee (left to right) Jeanette Nicoletti, Principal Library Clerk, Nancy Sherwood, Librarian, Head of Technical Services, Laura Flanagan, Librarian, and Margaret Kelly, Young Adult Librarian, planned festivities and set up light refreshments for the celebration. From left to right, Friends of the Garden City Library Board members Tom Richmond, Vice President, Salvatore Catania, President, and Mary Ann Garrett, Treasurer, listened to speeches by visiting dignitaries. From left to right, Library Board Trustee John H. Pascal thanked Eric Lipsky and Barry Lipsky of Lipsky Enterprises for their excellent work as general contractors for the renovation. New York State Senator Kemp Hannon addressed the guests at the Library's celebration and expressed how delighted he was to be joining so many members of the community to celebrate the completion of the Library's renovation. Several of the Library's Circulation staff members welcomed patrons to the Library's celebration. Pictured from left to right are: Joanne DeMeo, Senior Library Clerk, Jeanette Nicoletti, Principal Library Clerk, Ellen Flynn, Senior Library Clerk, Kathy Connors, Library Clerk, and Ronnie George, Library Clerk. Gloria Weinrich, Library Board Vice Chair, (center) welcomed Friends of the Garden City Public Library Board Members (left to right) Salvatore Catania, president, Marjorie Maher, director, Tom Richmond, vice president, and Hal Ressmeyer, director, to the Library's newly renovated lower level. Marjorie Maher was formerly head of circulation at the Library. (All photos by John Ellis Kordes) Library Director Alan Roeckel discussed the changes at the Library with Librarian Melinda Alford, the daughter of former Mayor and Library Board Chair, the late Raymond Regan. Former Library Board Chair John Delany (left) enjoyed touring the Library's new facilities with current Library Board Chair J. Randolph Colahan (right). New York State Senator Kemp Hannon and Althea Robinson, Executive Director of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, visited the Library and enjoyed seeing the newly renovated facilities. Reference Librarians Martin Bowe and Kristin Danko greeted visitors who toured the Library during the festivities. Head of Children's Librarian Joanne Van Meter (left) and Library Aide and artist Liane Mallon (right) showed the newly painted murals of story book characters to visitors to the Library. Library Director Alan G. Roeckel cuts the first slice of cake at the Library's Renovation Celebration. Guests enjoyed pastries, fruit, and other light refreshments which were served in the new Step Down Café vending area on the lower level. Library Aide Kristen Sweeney (left) and her family enjoyed the Library's Renovation Celebration. Alan G. Roeckel, Library Director, welcomed visitors and distinguished guests to the Library's Renovation Celebration. J. Randolph Colahan, Library Board Chair, invited visitors and guests to tour the newly renovated facilities of the Library and enjoy refreshments during the celebration.