The much-anticipated, newly renovated Montauk Library officially reopened on Friday. “This is our soft opening,” said Denise DiPaolo, the library’s director, noting that the official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place in May.
But fanfare for the newly reconfigured and expanded library space has begun, as excited patrons passed through the doors on Friday, wearing big smiles and looks of wonder. “There’s so much more light,” exclaimed Robin Enz, a Montauk resident. “It’s so much more spacious, and it’s really opened up the children’s center.”
The children’s area is bright and airy, and there are a couple of reading nooks that children can climb into. Which is precisely what 5-year-old Ava Novack did as she ran inside. “The library and the beach are her favorite places,” her mother, Laura Mastandrea, said. The renovation “has made our year.”
The reconfigured library added 5,000 square feet to its footprint. In addition to the children’s area, there’s a designated teen space on the main floor and a new archival center, an exhibit and gallery space where history and technology coincide. History buffs can use their smartphones to scan QR codes on the walls, next to photographs of local cultural and historical figures such as Frank Tuma, Betty Dupree, and Mary Gosman. They can then listen to the oral histories of these colorful characters on their phones.
Another notable change is the building out of the mezzanine level, making room for more bookshelves upstairs and several quiet spaces. There are now multiple outdoor decks, which will have chairs and tables from which to enjoy the views of the ocean. A green roof, with plantings and more seating, will open in May.
In the basement, there’s a community room and a sound studio where patrons can record podcasts or catalog their own oral histories.
“We checked all the boxes,” said Ms. DiPaolo, who has served as the library’s director since 2015. The project began in early 2020, after Montauk voters overwhelmingly approved a $7.5 million renovation and expansion proposition. In addition to those funds, Ms. DiPaolo said, the project received two New York State grants, including one facilitated by Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. The total renovation cost was approximately $8.5 million, she said.
While construction was expected to take eight to 10 months, the pandemic delayed it. Books, office space, equipment, and programs were moved into four large trailers that served as temporary quarters for almost two years.
In 2019, Ms. DiPaolo said, she took a course at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design called the Future of Library Design: Physical Libraries in the Digital Information Landscape, and it was vital in helping her plan the new library, not simply as a productive “think space” but also as a “real home away from home,” she said. “We are a social library. We’re not a quiet research library.”
Other takeaways from the course included the implementation of sustainable elements, such as the green roof and solar panels, and concealing all the electrical wiring between the flooring and the foundation.
“We’ve had a steady stream of people come in today, and everyone is thrilled,” she said. Right on cue, a workman popped his head into her office to give her an update on his job. Before leaving, he said, “By the way, we’re getting rave reviews.”
Although parking is limited — the lot is still under construction — the library is ready to welcome back its patrons. For now, it will operate with limited hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Sunday hours are 1 to 5.
