Marblehead Library Trustees debate Abbot renovation plans

MARBLEHEAD – The Marblehead Library Trustees met Monday night to further discuss renovation plans for the lower level of Abbot Public Library.The lower level presently includes the meeting room, children’s room, art gallery, a small food preparation area and garden as well as the young adult room.Currently, the trustees are deciding on whether to keep the current activity rooms where they presently are and improve on them or to switch the locations of the rooms.With suggestions from the design consultants, there has been talk about turning the meeting room into a new improved young adult’s room, leaving the meeting room to move upstairs.However, there is some hesitation to go ahead with this decision. If the meeting room is relocated to upstairs it will no longer be adjacent to the garden which some trustees feel the rooms adjacent to each other complement each other.”There are many trade-offs to consider,” Library Director Patricia Rogers said. “It is good to be conscious of what you are gaining and losing.””We don’t want to do it for the sake of doing it,” Chairman Phil Sweeney said. The young adults room is being considered for heavy renovation. The location, however, is still yet to be determined. “While I like the sound of having that much space for the young adult’s room,” Rogers said. “The loss of the garden and the meeting room next to each other makes me sad.”Wherever the young adults room is placed, all the trustees want to give the room a fun and dynamic atmosphere to attract more teenagers. Currently, the trustees feel the young adults room is under used and want to change that.”The library is no longer a traditional place where you just get book,” Sweeney said. “We want to provide the format where they can socialize.”While not every decision for the new renovations have been made, the children’s room will stay where it currently is. Cosmetic changes like painting and carpeting will be made.