Daffodils and hyacinths will not be the only things blooming this spring. Muhlenberg Community Library is set to bloom with a building retrofitting and improvement renovation project, which will include a pop of new color in a large room of the library. Phase 1 of the renovation project includes much needed repairs and upgrades to the old Community Room of the library. Patrons and community members who frequent the Community Room for tutoring, book sales, meetings, and special events will no longer recognize what some fondly refer to as “the book sale room.” The room will be renovated into an attractive large meeting room with new carpet and new paint; retrofitted with a 29’ long by approximately 9’ high closet which can hold books, folding chairs, tables and other library supplies in order to easily unclutter the room for events that require more open space. Organizations, businesses and the public will be able to rent the stylish, spacious room for meetings, training and gatherings.
Dolan Construction, Inc., of Reading was awarded the bid for Phase 1 of the project. This project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development Keystone Communities Program. The Muhlenberg Community Library is grateful to State Representative Mark Rozzi and his office for their assistance in acquiring this grant for the much-needed renovation to improve the library.
A further improvement will be visible, as community members enter the library through a new set of front doors that will replace the old ones during Phase 1 of the project. Pending additional funds, Phase 2 of the project will equip the new front doors with push pads to allow automatic door operation making it easier for residents to enter and exit the library. It is difficult for patrons who use canes or wheelchairs to navigate the current doors. According to the Penn State Data Center, Berks County was one of the many PA counties with an increase in median age from 2010 to 2016. As our population ages, more patrons are using canes, walkers and wheel chairs. Since the library serves as a polling location, it will benefit the community of voters, also, to have easier to access building. The library sits on Kutztown Rd., which is one of the main thoroughfares in Muhlenberg, allowing for easy accessibility for the community to the library’s ever-growing benefits, opportunities and services.
Phase 1 of the renovation project begins March 11, 2019 and is expected to be complete by May of this year. The library will be open during the renovation; however, the Community Room will be closed until May 4th. Rep. Mark Rozzi will open the room on Saturday, May 4th at 11:00 AM with a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the library’s 2019 Health & Wellness Fair. This is a free event open to the community.
