Calendar Flips to 2012, a Year Without the Bala Cynwyd Library

At 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, the closed for renovations as part of Lower Merion's Library System Capital Improvement Project. The library is the second-largest of six in the township; Ludington, the largest. Ludington Library in Bryn Mawr, the largest library in the system, is currently closed for expansion and renovation, and is expected to reopen with  a few months. Bala Cynwyd Library's reopening is projected to be in early 2013. 

The renovations include both facilities and systems improvements. Drawings depicting the Library and its floor plans when finished can be seen on the township website. You're likely to be impressed by the look and the scope of the plans. Once the library is closed to the public, staff will begin packing the library's contents for relocation and storage. Bala Cynwyd librarians and staffers will be reassigned to work in other township libraries during theproject.

We stopped by to see what the final day of library operations looked like. Oddly enough, according to librarians on duty, it was not uncharacteristic of any Saturday. During the morning hours traffic was extremely light, but by 1 p.m. things were busier, though not busier than usual. Of course, there were a lot of questions directed to the librarians on duty about the reopening date, how to return books, DVDs, etc., once the library is closed, and what were the best options as substitutes for the Bala Cynwyd branch.  All other branches can be used to order, pick up and drop off materials. The best choice seems to be the branch closest to you. 

Our gallery depicts the scene at the library on its last operational day for more than a year.