After a four-year journey, it all ends with a "Goosebumps" book in Dimitri Rhooms’ hand. Ten-year-old Dimitri and his fellow PS 94 classmates are the beneficiaries of a spacious, brand-new school library made possible with funding from the Robin Hood Foundation.  

"We have a lot of plans," said Cindy James-Manzi, PS 94’s librarian. "We have the freedom to have a flexible schedule here."

James-Manzi can finally exercise that creative freedom now that she has been liberated from a far smaller library on the third floor. Taking over three classrooms on the second floor, the new library is spacious enough for multiple classes to use simultaneously. 

PS 94’s facility was one of 21 libraries opened across the city last week through Robin Hood’s multi-million dollar initiative to encourage reading in low-income schools. In partnership with the Department of Education, Robin Hood is transforming the libraries —  from the physical surroundings to resources and staff —  in hopes of improving literacy rates.

PS 94 had searched for years for financial support to replace its existing library, which could only hold one classroom at a time. "It’s been a long journey for us," said PS 94 Principal Jacqueline Thomas, a former librarian herself. Through candy sales and alumni donations, the school was able to buy furniture and books but couldn’t afford a complete makeover.

Robin Hood visited PS 94 in 2000 in a citywide hunt for candidate schools. "We walked in and knew it was the right place," said Meagan Wyatt, a program officer at Robin Hood, during the formal ribbon cutting. 

Pro bono architects working with Robin Hood designed a dynamic, exciting space. The room is divided between tables with colorful chairs on one side, and a cozy reading nook with soft, stackable seats on the other. A circular computer table with new desktops and laptops equipped with wireless Internet stands in the center.

The wooden shelves are brimming with books divided into fiction, nonfiction, poetry and other areas. Jeremy Castillo is in charge of keeping the early readers section organized. "I come here to read because I only have one shelf of books at home," said Castillo, 10.

Jeremy is one of 12 "library squad" members —  fourth and fifth graders who applied to keep the bookcases organized and help patrons. Students took a quiz on the Dewey Decimal system to qualify, then completed two weeks of training.

The library’s doors opened a month ago, and all PS 94 students received an orientation. Library squad members were already zooming through the digital card catalogue during the formal opening, with one group of boys searching the extensive listing of animal books.

PS 94 students made their mark on the library’s design with a mural on the upper walls depicting students’ favorite toys from home. "We wanted them to come in and say "we brought that in,’" said Lynn Pauley, the mural’s artist, who was near tears during the presentation.

James-Manzi is especially grateful for the program, because it footed the bill for her master’s in library science. Robin Hood pays for all its librarians to get an advanced degree at Syracuse University, a top school for library science. "It’s very exciting," James-Manzi said.

Many school officials turned out for the opening, including PS 46 Principal Aramina Ferrer, whose Robin Hood library will have its own ribbon-cutting later this month. Former Region 1 supervisor Gail Davis was especially moved by the new facility. "This is one of the best things you could do for a child," she said.

But for Thomas, who waited to retire from PS 94 until the library was completed, it was especially poignant to see the tangible results of her efforts. 

"We will be celebrating this achievement each time a child opens that door," said 
Thomas, pointing to the library’s shiny green entrance.