Berwyn library unveils renovated youth services department

[ BERWYN ]

These days, local libraries play a special role in their respective communities, said Tammy Sheedy, executive director at the Berwyn Public Library.

They’ve transformed into a “community hub” where residents can participate in programs, Sheedy said. From learning English to discovering the pathways to U.S. citizenship and attending family-friendly social events, libraries offer more than just books.

Sheedy said that libraries have had to change, as a way to not only stay relevant but also to continue to fill the needs of the people they serve. The Berwyn Public Library’s mission is built on a simple two-word mantra, “empowering you.” Sheedy and her colleagues have stayed true to that message as they carried out the new renovations at the youth services department.

On the library’s second floor, the youth services department spills into a bright, airy space. The newly placed bins – each neatly categorized by genre and language – lead children to a couple of nooks, one for reading and another for playing. The program room, meanwhile, now can be used to host storytimes and arts and crafts projects.

A pair of murals, each depicting an image of children discovering the power of reading and using their imaginations, liven up the room’s corners.

“This is a children’s department,” said Kathi Behrendt, head of youth services, pointing out the bold use of orange, green and blue. “Just having all those murals up, showing pictures of children reading, interacting with each other, it’s beautiful.”

Sheedy boiled down the department’s major changes – knocking down two study rooms and expanding the program room for fun gatherings, projects and other educational opportunities.

Behrendt shared that when her department moved to the second floor four years ago, it couldn’t even host storytimes.

“It’s so nice to have a space where we don’t have to book [a room] because it’s ours,” she said, adding staff is looking forward to the many possibilities the program room will bring, especially for after-school, evening and weekend activities. “It makes a big difference.”

A grand reopening celebration took place Feb. 22 to introduce the additions. The renovation project took nearly a year and a half to complete and cost about $50,000. With the help of state Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, and the Friends of the Library, state funding and donations were used to support the new youth services department.

As Sheedy and Behrendt reflected on the expansion, they spoke more of the public library’s purpose. Local libraries are a free resource, and their staff members have the power to help their communities.

“We offer so much more,” Behrendt said. “This is what we can offer.”