next month.

And the first project will be the building of a lift for ease of access to the lending library on the second floor for the elderly or disabled.

A new main door will also be created at the northern end of the Queen Street, Hamilton, building, leading through to the lift, which will be placed in the rear of the north wing of the library, formerly part of the reference section.

Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, Sen. Yvette Swan, told the Senate last week: "During the renovations, the main library will be open as usual, but without the services of the reference and legal deposit collections, which have been packed and moved to storage space at the former USNAS property.'' She added: "Once the elevator has been installed. the layout of the reference and circulation departments will be reorganised to improve traffic flow and to deploy staff more efficiently.'' Sen. Swan added that re-wiring work at the historically important library building will bring the structure up to current safety standards -- and allow the library to improve its service to the public by the use of more computerisation.

And she asked the public and library staff to bear with the noise, dust and periodic interruption of service during the building work, expected to take a total of four months.

But she added: "We are looking with eager anticipation to this, the first of many improvements to the Bermuda National Library.''