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Victoria Rakhshteyn is back at her old station on the third floor of the Ferguson Library's Main Branch in downtown Stamford. It's not the way she left it, though. For starters, there's new carpeting, fresh paint, an expanded computer lab and two quiet rooms for individual study or tutoring.
"It's completely remodeled," said Rakhshteyn, a library assistant who serves patrons from the information desk. She had relocated to the second floor while renovations were done. Now, she's back home.
Today was the first day the third floor was open to the public since closing in spring for the remodeling project. It was a soft reopening, with no great fanfare or grand announcements. A surprised patron filed into the area after learning it was open again. By mid-afternoon, most of the public computers were being used.
More work still needs to done. Books, which have been in storage, need to be set up. Computer lab hardware needs to be moved in. That should be completed by Friday. It'll take a bit longer, at least a couple more weeks, to finish the auditorium.
But today marked the beginning of the end of the renovation project. The endeavor started about two years ago on the first and sub-ground levels and worked its way up, in phases. In addition to new carpeting, the refurbishment included a new materials room and new shelves, furniture and first-floor public restrooms. A gala rededication is planned for the fall once all the renovations are totally complete.
Rakhshteyn said she looks forward to the auditorium's reopening. "We have really nice programs here," she said. "I believe the library has a very special place here. We really need it."
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