The long-anticipated reopening of the Quince Orchard Library is imminent. No longer will area residents be forced to make the longer, more heavily-trafficked drive past the site of our community branch to fulfill their library-related needs.

Quince Orchard closed April 15 for a “refresh,” with the work expected to take about six months. Only two months behind schedule, the new, improved facility will reopen its doors on Saturday, Dec. 16. To celebrate, County Executive Ike Leggett has invited residents to a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed immediately by refreshments served by the Quince Orchard Chapter of the Friends of the Library.

Branch Manager James Stewart, who remained in the building while the work was being done, has blogged regularly about contractors’ progress. He noted that the rest of the staff returned to Quince Orchard in early November to stock the shelves and set up the service desks.

Patrons can expect substantial changes, Stewart said. Outside, cracked sidewalk concrete was replaced, the building’s exterior and entrance column stonework repaired, and new parking space lines painted. The 96 spaces include six that are handicap-accessible.

The new outdoor book drop will protect the books from weather damage. And near the front entrance a “colorful and cheerful BOOKS” bike rack replaced the “wave” bike rack.

Substantial redesign as well as repainting, new flooring (both carpeting and tile), furniture and equipment enhance the building’s interior. LED lighting replaced all the building’s fluorescents, which Stewart said, “will produce more cost-efficient light that will be brighter and more effective in the reading, book stack and work areas.” And the new electronic shades installed both in the lounge area at the front of the building and in the large meeting room will enable “staff to raise and lower the shades depending on lighting conditions,” he added.

A motorized room divider in the large meeting room will allow two groups to use the space at the same time. “One of its safety features is that it will require two people, one on either side of it, to operate the switches, providing visibility on both sides,” Stewart said, noting that the former manual room divider was nearly impossible to use.

Also new to the area between the vestibule and the main library are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-upgraded public restrooms, with new floor and wall tile, and a bottle-filling station was added to the drinking fountain.

In addition, Stewart said, the site’s Wi-Fi reception has been improved and is “more reliable.”

Upon entering the main library, patrons will find a newly designed area for the circulation and information desks, which are now next to each other, allowing improved communication and coordination between staff members, with three circulation stations and two information stations. Both desks are height-adjustable, so staff can sit or stand. With the wall behind them painted a deep blue, they are “welcoming and bright,” Stewart said.

The two self-charge machines, now relocated near the new books section just before the checkout desk, also have been placed on automatically height-adjusting furniture. “This should allow for much more flexible use of the self-charge machines, no matter the height of the individual,” Stewart observed.

The staff workroom has been completely redesigned, and both it and the public areas have new furniture and work stations. While they have retained the reading room’s kidney-shaped tables, new computer and reading tables as well as chairs and lounge chair have been added. Reading tables have replaced the carrels in the quiet room, which now also has an electronic information display like the one at the entrance.

While most of the repainting was done in the original off-white shade, the alcoves are graduated in color from orange to red. “It’s very nice,” Stewart said.

New services include 10 lending laptops for use within the building, and All Children Excel program STEM Go! Kits, such as science-related Little Explorer for preschoolers and Young Voyagers for elementary age children, will be available for checkout.

Branch hours beginning Sunday, Dec. 17 will be 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.