By Nancy Covert
Fans of Dr. Seuss should be able to answer this question. Where are you likely to be able to find Thing One and Thing Two? On a shelf in the Library, of course, so it’s understandable why a librarian might give that name to a pair of library items.
Even so, Lakewood Library’s “Thing One” and “Thing Two” aren’t exactly Seussical. Still, that’s what David Durante (left), Lakewood’s Branch Manager, nicknamed the newest electronic devices that were installed.
The pickup/checkout devices, designed to handle checkout for DVDs, are part of the recent makeover at the area facility that’s served library patrons since 1963. Between Dec. 20-Jan. 2 the facility was closed while new customer “Zones” were created to better serve patrons. This past year, Durante said, approximately 320,171 patrons used the 40+-year-old facility.
While Lakewood Library was established in 1946, the present 32,592-sq. ft. site on Wildaire Ave., with its 22-person staff, was built in 1963. In 1964 the library received an award from the American Institute of Architects, the American Library Association and the National Book Committee Institute for its modern design.
Besides the Lakewood Library that received a makeover this past year, the County Library system opened the first of its three new facilities. The Milton/Edgewood Library opened on Jan. 13, University Place Library is scheduled to open in February, and the Fife Library is scheduled to open next summer.
Lakewood’s Library Zones feature a Teen area, Computer area, and a Family area: all of which make more efficient use of existing space.
By moving many of the computers to the second floor gallery area, “it’s hoped that more patrons will view the changing art displays,” explained Durante.
Patron response to the changes, though, “have been mixed”.
“Not all patrons have been happy with the changes,” he adds.
Durante, who came to Lakewood about a year ago after serving as Branch Manager at the Graham Library, likes the local community outreach efforts.
Adequate patron parking remains an issue, he said.
Lakewood Library is open seven days a week.