By Amy Mann and Katie Warrener

Children’s Services Department, Warsaw Community Public Library

Friends of the Library recently donated wire easels to display books at WCPL. Pictured, from left, Carol Noll, Merri Bottorff, Ann Zydek, Walt Krygier and Lorie Krygier.

WARSAW—When you have visited the Warsaw Community Public Library’s children’s area lately, you may have noticed signs posted among the bookshelves begging you to “Pardon Our Mess.” You may have wondered why picture books and easy readers have disappeared and reappeared in strange places. Why are we moving things all around?

We are excited to say: pardon our mess, but it’s for the best! This year we have the opportunity to re-carpet the north side of the room, where the picture books and easy readers live. The carpet that has served the library well for 20 years is showing signs of severe wear and tear and is ready to retire. At the beginning of March, spiffy new carpet is coming! The new carpet will freshen up the space and make it safer, too.

To get ready for new carpet installation, we must move all the library books on that side of the room out of the way. We have already begun to place picture books and easy readers in temporary locations, and we will move the remaining books at the end of February. We aim to keep the whole children’s collection available to you throughout the project. If you have any trouble locating the books you want, please don’t hesitate to ask us for assistance.

Our new carpet will extend into the popular preschool play space. We will continue to make a selection of toys and games available for families to use at tables in the children’s area. However, for a brief period at the beginning of March, our play space will be more limited than usual. Once the new carpet is in place, we will work as quickly as possible to put the preschool play space back together again. You can get the latest updates on the status of the children’s area by tuning in to the Warsaw Community Public Library Facebook page.

Throughout the carpet project, we will continue to offer scheduled children’s programs downstairs in the Meeting Rooms and Hogan Activity Room. For program details, check the library’s Calendar of Events online at warsawlibrary.org or follow the library’s Facebook page. If you have any questions about the children’s area or children’s programs, please contact us at (574) 267-6011.