North Scituate Public Library

The library's new rain garden is meant to absorb the runoff from our new addition.

This is a better view of the swale which will collect water. We have planted it with traditional New England shrubs, which are hardy and easy to maintain. The day lilies are from our flower beds at the front of the library.

We were a little nervous about the stone wall that identifies the exterior of the Betty Fiske Archive. Would it stick out too much? We think the lettering pulls the look together, and hope you do too. It's certainly easy to know you are at the PUBLIC LIBRARY!

Our friends at Systematics are back to re-install the shelving that they had stored and modified for us. They will come back again in a few weeks to install some new shelving, which will be delivered soon.

The flooring is being installed. The grey flooring outlines the area where the circulation desk will be. It is specially cushioned to make standing more comfortable for staff.

The carpet now stretches all the way across the building. It took a few days to install.

But let's not forget the outside! Here's our new emergency exit on the south side of the library.

This back hoe is busy creating drainage for the addition. In the end, we will have a "rain garden" in this spot.

A parking lot conference to talk about drainage and exterior details.

Within weeks, this will be a garden. Hard to believe that we are almost finished!

This design board captures most of the decisions we've been making -- deciding what the library will look like at the end of the project. It has taken us nearly a year to get it all together, and we hope you like the result!

The Betty Fiske Archives are painted a solid gray to match the stone outside. A visual reminder of the permanence and importance of our local history collection.

New paneling and new lights in the upper level echo the original 1984 design.

Carpeting is in the reference room, although it's covered with paper right now, and notice the new windows that open for fresh air.

Staff is very happy with our new kitchen - we no longer have to wash mugs in the bathroom sink!

Our new front door and foyer are nearly complete. Again, we have copied the "look" of the 1984 addtion.

The archive's exterior stonework is awaiting lettering to announce that here you will find the North Scituate Public Library. We did lose a maple tree - it would not survive the drainage work which needs to be done.

The meeting room walls are up, and just about ready to paint.

The circulation area is waiting for the desk to arrive.

The children's area is busy being used as a carpenter's shop.

The outside of the new addition was made to match the original 1925 building. We are happy with the result. The door leads into our new meeting room.

A view of the new windows along Silk Lane, looking toward the original building.

The circulation area is starting to take shape. See the curved piece on the ceiling? The circulation desk will be right under that, and will mirror its shape.

Here's a closer view of the circulation area. On the left is the door into the reference room, and in the center is the doorway to the staff work room.

Here is a view into the staff work room from the circulation desk. That pink board in the window will be replaced by a new window that opens to let the fresh air in.

The meeting room is fully insulated, and will soon have walls up.

The children's area is full of lumber and tools. See the lights? They mark where the old bookstacks were located on the lower level.

Under the "tent", the addition brickwork has been completed.

Inside the addition, the wiring has been "roughed in" and we are almost ready to install the retractable ceiling movie screen.

The Betty Fiske Scituate Archives room is taking shape. The "windows" on either side of the door will actually become display cases.

Remember those trenches in the cement floor? Electrical and data wiring are now in place.

The Betty Fiske Scituate Archives room is starting to take shape.

Interior walls are starting to be framed. Looking into the director's office.

Hard at work in the meeting room.

Digging trenches in the cement floor for electrical and data lines.

Snowy view of Silk Lane before another foot of snow fell.

January snows can't stop our project!

If you see this man, thank him for creating some wonderful brick walls, despite the snow.

Our old reference room is in use as the construction office.

The reference doorway is no more. You can see the original outside of the 1925 building if you look closely.

New windows that open & close AND have screens are waiting to be installed. We are looking forward to being able to open windows.

Our new entryway on Silk Lane - waiting for a new door.

The new meeting room is coming along - the cement floor has been poured.

Library staff is thrilled at the progress!

The roof on the new addition is taking shape!

The director is in her office - "Where's my desk?"

The meeting room now has a ceiling. And a gravel floor. Check out those windows - we will have a lot of sunlight!

The local history archive room is still open to the sky, but it now has walls.

The meeting room walls are up in the new addition.

Office space! (that's the well surrounded by straw)

Here's the new addition from the inside.

The local history archives will be here.

Beams are going up in the basement to support new bookshelves above.

Our new Silk Lane entry is taking shape.

Working hard to make sure we do the best job possible - architect, builders, library staff & trustees.

New foundation by the back wall.

Working on our new foundation.

The back of the library is looking very different!

Plywood covers an opening in the floor where a beam will be installed.

Remember all the book stacks on the lower level? Gone!

The reference room is being used as a construction office for now.

The director's office has disappeared.

Cement forms for the library addition on 11/6/10.

Bricks have been removed from the back of the library.