“It’s Like a College Library!” New MHS Library Opens

by Joan R. Simon; photos by Fred Levine

(March 30, 2005) Hundreds of high school students left their food aside and poured into the new library at Mamaroneck High School, which officially opened at lunchtime on Tuesday, March 29. They were greeted first by a state of the art facility, and then by an old-fashioned fire alarm, which quickly emptied the room. After a 15-minute delay, the school reopened, and soon the sounds of “Severalty,” a high school band, were mingling with expressions of awe and admiration. “It’s like a college library!” exclaimed one student.

Principal Mark Orfinger welcomed the group to the new library “that we have been planning and dreaming about” for a long time. He added,“It is my hope that it becomes one of the intellectual centers of the school and the community.” Superintendent Sherry King talked about the overall plan of making this area the “heart of the school” and referred to the library as “one chamber of the heart.”

Supt. King: photo by J. Rosen

MHS Principal Dr. Mark Orfinger surrounded by students at ribbon cutting: Next step - into the library. Photo by F. Levine

The new library has 12 computer stations for students, compared with five in the old space. In addition, there is a separate classroom within the library with high tech presentation capabilities, including a rear projector screen with access to the Internet and cable and video conferencing. The library contains approximately 27,000 volumes.

Also opened on Tuesday was part of the connector between the Palmer and Post buildings. The newly refurbished section runs from the administrative offices in the Post building part way to the Palmer building and has ample areas where students can lounge.

The full overpass between the two buildings, including offices for the guidance department, will be open when school starts in September. The “café,” which will replace the current cafeteria, will be situated where the now-empty old library sits and is expected to be completed later in the fall.

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