“The whole library world has changed so much,” said Lisa Michne, the executive director of Bridgehampton’s Hampton Library, during a walk through the building last Thursday afternoon. “The priorities haven’t changed, really. It’s just literacy, community, freedom of information, access. That’s all the same, but newer elements have come in.”
The library is undergoing its first major renovation since a $6 million expansion in 2009, though updates this time around are focused on reconfiguring the existing structure, expanding certain rooms, and replacing outdated equipment with new technology throughout, to meet the changing needs of the community.
The plans include an expansion of the Literacy Room, a designated Young Adult Room for teens, a new circulation desk, and a refurbishment of the Children’s Room. They had been in place for years before Ms. Michne took over as director in spring 2022, but “came to a standstill” during the pandemic — which also resulted in substantial increases to projected costs.
The library launched a $1.5 million capital campaign in May, and began construction on the first phase of the project early last month, entirely funded by private donations and gifts. All services have been temporarily truncated into a portion of the building’s lower level, accessible by following a narrow sidewalk along the building’s east side, through a gate, and down a set of stairs on the left to the back door.
A temporary front desk sits to the left of the entrance, behind a cork board covered in information about the progress of the renovation, including detailed renderings and floor plans.
The reference librarian was seated last Thursday at another desk in the back right corner of the room, and a single patron sat at a computer station in the back left corner, wearing a pair of headphones and focusing intently on the screen in front of him.
“People aren’t coming as much, and we miss them, but we are here,” Ms. Michne said. She led the way back through the room and around the corner to the Geri Bauer Art Gallery, where a temporary “browsing area” has been set up for patrons. Carts were lined up against the back wall, filled with books “from all the different genres and subjects,” along with a selection of periodicals. Patrons often stop by for a photocopy of the daily New York Times crossword puzzle, Ms. Michne noted.
The lower level, usually occupied by the children’s room, has been cordoned off and repurposed during construction. “Sadly, you can’t really see how adorable it is,” she said. Children’s services are currently running out of the basement of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church across the street, where they will remain until the project is complete. “It’s set up as a library, and we’re very happy that children will be there for the duration so we don’t have to uproot them,” she said.
A full renovation of the children’s room will begin in January, during the second phase of construction, including the creation of a new “ ‘tween nook” for older children still too young for the teen area. The library is a unique presence in the community, Ms. Michne commented, because it offers “something for everyone,” from babies to older adults, and “everything’s free, which is really, truly democratic and wonderful.”
On the first floor, the entrance area has been emptied of bookshelves and furniture to prepare for the installation of a smaller, “more efficient” circulation desk, which will allow for an expansion of the Young Adult area. “Especially for teens, it’s so important for them to have their own place that’s safe, inclusive, and supervised, where they can come and enjoy the library and each other.” The new space will have windows looking out over Main Street, a table to sit and do homework, and a new “AV nook” that will include a smart board and gaming equipment.
The original wall of the Literacy Room, located on the west side of the building, has been knocked down, and its replacement will double its size. “We could only fit, you know, 10 people at a table,” Ms. Michne said. “People want to learn a language, or attend some of our other programs, and we don’t like to turn people away — that’s hard for us to do.” An upgraded audiovisual system, offering more options to teachers and facilitating the library’s popular hybrid programs, will be installed as well; it can be attended in person or over Zoom.
Bookshelves in the back room, a large, open space featuring floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the back lawn, have been carefully coated in plastic sheeting. “It’s wonderful for events,” Ms. Michne said of the space, “but also people just come relax, have a coffee, read a book.”
Furniture and laptop tables throughout the building will be updated to create more accessible, flexible workspaces. “People have written books here!”
The first and second floors will reopen to the public in January, if all goes according to plan, and the library hopes to have all work completed before the summer of 2026, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of its opening. “It’s working out really well, on schedule, and I’m very excited,” Ms. Michne said. “I have to say, the staff have really been troopers, because it’s a lot of moving and changing and re-strategizing, but we have a great group here.”
“We just want to remind people that we are, in fact, open. Hours are slightly changed, but we miss seeing a lot of our regular patrons, and we hope they’ll come in and do a little mini-browse in our art gallery — and we can order books,” she said. “I know it’s a little difficult, but we can run books up to the sidewalk if people don’t want to make the trip. We’re happy to help.”
