Charlie Nielsen of Bryant Pond, left, stands at the Rumford Public Library circulation desk, which will be replaced this fall. From right are Christy Bates, circulation supervisor; Mary Ann Fournier, adult services librarian; and library Director Tamara Butler. (Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times)
RUMFORD — Rumford Public Library Director Tamara Butler said a new circulation desk being installed this fall will provide more space and help workflow.
“We’ll have a lot more storage,” she said. “Each work area is going to have drawers and places to put things, so that we can be more efficient.”
The desk will serve four staff members.
“We’re excited to have it. It’s going to be such a help,” Circulation Supervisor Christy Bates. She said the current desk presents “obstacles in doing things, bumping into each other. It makes multi-tasking really hard, especially spring into summer when we get more foot traffic, and we have a lot more volume coming in.”
Mary Ann Fournier, adult services librarian, said, “I have like four departments in one, and I only have room for one department.”
Butler said the new desk will also be handicapped accessible, which the current one is not.
She said work should begin in a couple weeks and be completed by late October.
Selectmen voted 3-2 Aug. 2 to approve the low bid of $19,145 from by Maine Made Furniture of Wilton for the desk.
Selectmen John Pepin Sr., Peter Chase and Chairman Chris Brennick voted in favor; Mark Belanger and Jim Windover voted against. Belanger questioned using money from the library’s capital plan when they should be saving for other equipment, such as a furnace and an elevator. He also questioned the low bid, which was nearly $12,000 lower than the other offer, believing that it did not include removing the old desk and installing the new one.
Butler said Friday that she contacted the president of Maine Made Furniture, who put in writing that the price included dismantling and removing the old desk and installing the new one.
Butler said the only additional cost will be hiring an electrician.
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