With the Pawling library’s focus on refresh and renewal of its exterior and interior spaces over the last several years, one of the final touches was replacing the well-worn carpeting. If you haven’t yet had a chance to visit the library since the carpet installation, which necessitated the library’s closure over the final week of August, then you will be surprised at what a lovely difference new, modern carpeting can make.

Provided by a generous grant from the Oliver S. and Jennie R. Donaldson Charitable Trust, the carpeting extends throughout the library’s 3,000 square feet. The Donaldson Charitable Trust also provided the funds for a new roof on both library buildings and repair of the wood gables on the main library building, as well as fresh paint on those gables and wood trim on both buildings. The library board has been diligent in overseeing additional facility improvements over the last several years that have brought this much-loved community treasure into the 21st century. These have included two new ADA-compliant lavatories; new, much-needed flooring in the Annex, fresh interior paint, and the new Ross and Fayne Daniels Children’s Room, a project brought to life through the generosity of the Pawling community.

With expert assistance from Clancy Relocation, which provided moving and short-term storage of existing library furnishings, books and shelves, the library floor was cleared so that the folks at Kenny’s Carpet One, Inc. could remove the old carpeting and install the new, fresh carpet tiles. Additional carpet tiles have been purchased so that any stains or excessive wear-and-tear of this newest addition may be easily replaced, maintaining the beauty of this upgrade for many years to come.

Of course, a project of this magnitude could not have been possible without the help of staff members Tom Clemmons, Vero Vertiz and Donald Partelow. Board members and volunteers who participated in the transition included Wanda Rusiecki, Karen Franco, Michael Driscoll, Stephanie Mclaughlin, Ray Cha, and Valerie Fisher.

Executive Director Chris Fisher expertly managed this project. Along with expressing gratitude to the Donaldson Charitable Trust for financially supporting this project, as well as many others, Chris added, “While being closed was painful for us because every single library employee values service above everything else, we are so excited to welcome our community of Library Lovers into our new and reimagined space.”

Kudos to all for a job well done!!

–by Susan Stone