Update on Pinewood Plaza

Our new home for the Vermont Genealogy Library is still in a state of hibernation. Like most local organizations we’re waiting for conditions in Vermont to improve enough that the state’s quarantine is modified and a small group can work at our Pinewood Plaza space.

Next steps

The first order of business will be putting up bookshelves and assembling other furniture so we have a place for records, books and equipment. Once all this “stuff” has waiting shelf space we can begin building a schedule to allow small teams of volunteers to come in safely and start organizing our space into a functioning library.

A lot of members have expressed a desire to help us with this transition. We’ll let all of you know as soon as we have the clearance to begin again. And, of course, we’ll likely be required to wear masks, keep 6 feet between us and follow other good hygiene practices so we don’t put ourselves at risk.

Progress made

Before the virus and its associated effects upended things we did get to the wiring, walls, paint and carpet – allowing the exit from Dupont Hall in the fort. But, as you’ll see in the photos below, we got stuck right there. These shots show early 2020 progress and then where we stopped.

The place looks the same today. Hopefully, sometime in May, we can get back to work on the new home with that volunteer help.

Off-site work

A few things that didn’t require working at Pinewood have progressed. Specifically, obtaining equipment needed for the final fitup, dealing with vendors, preparing and repairing furniture & fixtures, etc.. Here is a partial list:

• a network switch was donated to connect all computers in PC room
• the round table for the far end of the library room was refinished
• Comcast solved some WiFi & internet issues with our new setup
• kitchen cabinets were bought at a great sale price & are being finished
• 3 oak bookcases from VT Surplus were repaired & cleaned
• our new entry desk’s top was repaired and refinished
• a member donated an under-counter refrigerator for the breakroom

Here are a few shots of that progress:

The future…

So, progress has slowed – but it continues. Some volunteers are debugging new software & hardware, others are working on future classes and John Fisher’s team is sending a new parish book to the printers.

We are also collaborating remotely on incoming research requests and answering emails. The Board of Directors continues to meet – virtually – using the same GoToMeeting tool that has driven our Tuesday Interest Groups for the past year.

Finally, while we wait, we offer members millions of records to research thanks to our MyHeritage Library Edition subscription and the temporary access we’re able to offer to Ancestry’s Library Edition.

We hope this update answers some of your questions about the status of our move and we’ll add to it as events unfold.