Mexico Library Director Marilla Couch stacks books on shelves Tuesday at the new location in the Recreation Center on Parker Street. The library closed its doors at 134 Main St. in August and will reopen in early October. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times
MEXICO — The Mexico Public Library is expected to reopen in early October at its new location in the Recreation Center on Parker Street, according to Director Marilla Couch.
The move comes about four months after a majority of residents indicated in a straw poll in June that they supported selling the 134 Main St. building, which is not handicap accessible. The library uses the basement and first floor, which also has an office for a business. The building, which is next to the Town Office, is also expensive to heat and cool.
Couch said the Parker Street location has two doors in the back for handicap access, better lighting and about the same space as the Main Street building. The library will occupy two large rooms on the first floor.
The library closed Aug. 12 and since then Couch and volunteers have been unpacking and arranging materials in the new location. On Tuesday, she was reorganizing books about Maine.
“I had them in categories at the other place and I discovered I didn’t like that because I couldn’t find things,” she said
Couch, director since 2018, said she’s thankful for the help.
“I’ve had a number of people who want to help with putting books on shelves and had a couple who have come in,” she said.
Anyone who wants to volunteer may contact Linda at the Town Office at 364-7971.
“If anyone wants to show up here (Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to around 3 p.m.), I will put them to work,” Couch said.
Welch-Day was one of a dozen people who showed up Sept. 3 and spent over four and a half hours packing up everything remaining in the library for the move to the new space.
With all the activities going on with other tenants in the two-story Recreation Center, including a dance studio, Pro Cheer competition cheerleading business, a game room, Fire & Ice exercise business and the town’s recreation programs, Couch believes she will have more people visiting the library.
The building next door houses the the Mexico Police Department, a church and the Free Store.
Couch said she is planning an open house around mid-October.
Voters to be asked in November whether they want to sell the 134 Main St. building.
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