After months of construction and waiting, Woodgrove’s new and improved library officially reopened to all students on Tuesday September 27, 2022. 

      The construction started at the end of the 2021-2022 school year and took roughly seven months, impacting the beginning of this school year as well. The new library, designed to have just as much space, activities, and of course, books, as the original, has been moved to the center of the school’s main hallway. This was done as part of the school’s incentive to ensure student safety by moving the main office right next to the entrance of the school. After a summer of hard work, the project is finally complete.

     “You will find an open, modern space for working and reading,” said Library Media Specialist Ms. Emerson. The new and improved library has all kinds of features, including an attached classroom, study areas alongside the windows facing the main hallway, and a new makerspace area with a green screen wall. The librarians also speak about the adjustments they had to make in the midst of construction. “While we are missing natural light from the windows, we are happy about the sky lights in the ceiling bringing in natural light.”

    The construction process did pose a few challenges for the library staff. Librarians Ms. Yurish and Ms. Emerson were surprised by how long it has taken to get all of the books on the shelves: “We are able to move the shelving around, but it has taken a bit of time to figure out where to put our special collections.” 

    “I am really happy to be in the center of the school to promote access to the library,” Ms. Yurish said, “We are hoping students like the central location. Judging on how well the seats are used in the main hallway, we anticipate students will like that new seating in the library as well.