The library is not only a tranquil place for students to study and work, but also a place for students to escape the noisy cafeterias and read a good book or socialize with friends. Students have made a home out of the comfy sofas, where they can relax, and the old board games that they can borrow to entertain themselves on a free period.
So it was quite the shock when students arrived at school in September to find that the library was closed. While the closure of the library remained a mystery to some in the first month of the school year, it was clear during the reopening on Thursday, Oct. 2, that the library was actually getting a makeover.
The computers have been rearranged and the furniture is brand new. Some aisles now contain futuristic chairs for style and maximum comfort, the tables have tree-themed seats, and there’s even a brand-new desk for the hard-working librarians (which they totally deserve).
“The instructional area is self-contained,” said Maureen Ryan, Sonderling librarian. “The natural elements, like the wooden seats, and the comfy egg chairs are probably my favorite features.”
“I love the modular tables and the way the computer area is its own private area, separate from the rest of the library,” said Susan Lewis, another Sonderling librarian.
Sure to excite some of the readers and usual borrowers out there, the library also has a whole inventory of new books, including romance, mystery, sci-fi, and fantasies. Ryan suggests titles like “Courage is Calling” by Ryan Holiday and “Clap When you Land” by Elizabeth Acevedo.
According to Lewis, library visitors in the mood for book recommendations should also make a habit of checking out the focus cart. It’s the first thing students will see when they enter the library and is reset with relevant books every month. This month is Hispanic Heritage month, so the cart contains cultural books from authors like Erika Sánchez, Sandra Cisneros, and Julia Alvarez.
Both librarians expressed enthusiasm for the remodel while noting that the changes took some getting used to. Mrs. Lewis has been working in the Sonderling Library since 2004, back when the library was first built. Mrs. Ryan has been working in the Sonderling library since 2018.
“Initially, I was excited, but I was also pretty attached to the original library,” said Ryan. “I was sad to say goodbye to our old space.”
“I was really pumped! But I knew how much work it was going to be,” Lewis said.
Library renovations were supposed to be completed before the school year began. When the librarians returned to find that the library was still in the process of its transformation, it became even more difficult to organize their inventory.
“It was very strange to see the library completely torn apart. And there were 998 boxes of book,” said Ryan.
“It was honestly just the fact that when we came back it wasn’t finished. After renovations, the four of us had to box 20,000 books in a week,” said Lewis.
Still, with all of the chaos came the perks.
“Students feel welcome and find it to be a cozy, relaxing environment,” said Mrs. Ryan.
Staff aren’t the only ones loving the new library scene. Students have great things to say about it, too.
Anais Torres is a senior who has been going to the Sonderling library during her free periods since sophomore year.
“I really like it,” said Torres. “I think it’s a nice change since it’s been the same for so long.”
The library still has a need for more computers. There are currently 30 computers in the library for classes and four for staff. However, the library staff is attempting to gain approval for the purchase of six more.
Though it may have been unexpected and messy in the beginning, the end result makes up for the delayed opening. Students can check out the library’s new threads on their lunch period or after school from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
