Everyone was all smiles at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library on Saturday, June 28. The library was celebrating the completion of phase one of its building project, the renovation of the library building itself.

Large windows are everywhere, letting in a huge amount of natural light. Two large windows are on the brand-new second story, which previously was simply an attic. Upstairs are books on history and biography, with a large community room, staff workroom and staff breakroom. The library also has a new air conditioning system, and a public bathroom for patrons.

According to Director Tim McFadden, the community room will house a special collection of books on Maine and Boothbay area history. The room will be used for trustees’ meetings and educational programs, and it will also be available for nonprofits in the area to use.

The library is planning to expand its educational programs now that they have a good space for them.

“We are hoping to have a program that connects teens to seniors,” President of the Library Trustees Nicole Poulton said. “It would benefit everyone and give the seniors a chance to pass on their knowledge to the younger generation.”

Additional changes include the addition of a “teen” room in addition to the children's room, directly to the left of the library’s new entrance.

“We felt it was important to give older kids their own space,” McFadden said.

New iMac computers have been installed, with more planned on the second story along with study tables for students. The library also plans to install some creative programs on the teen computer; because as McFadden said, “They need more than just books.”

Phase two of the library's renovation will be installing an outside elevator to enable access to the second floor, and phase three will be the demolition and reconstruction of the Friends of the Library Used Bookstore's storage barn into a much larger barn, and the addition of a covered walkway between the barn and the second floor of the library. The new barn will include an area for cataloging of books.

“We are only two stories tall, and didn't have to install the elevator, but we all felt as a board it was important for everyone to have access to all parts of the library,” Poulton said.

The architect for the project was Tor Glendinning of 44 Degrees North in Newcastle, and construction was by Frohmiller in Bath.

“Tor did a great job intermixing the old and new,” McFadden said. “And Fro Miller was wonderful, they started work in November and finished in mid-May, on time and on budget even with this harsh winter. I drove past and saw them shoveling snow more often than hammering nails!”

The library was founded in 1924, and in 10 years will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. It is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4:30, Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. it is closed Sundays and Mondays.