T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — Marshalltown Public Library Director Sarah Rosenblum, with Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce staff and library board members cuts the ribbon signifying the opening of new technology in the meeting room. The room was built 17 years ago, and this was its first tech upgrade. It features new projectors, screens, cameras and enhanced audio.

The Marshalltown Public Library just had an upgrade — an audio and visual upgrade in the meeting room, and hosted a ribbon cutting yesterday.

The technology has remained the same since that room was built 17 years ago, and it was due for improvement, according to Library Director Sarah Rosenblum. She started thinking about the upgrades last year and wanted to bring digital technology into the library’s future.

“I had seen what was done at the MACC [Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center] and at the college,” Rosenblum said. “I knew there were a lot of things out there that would help. This room is used by probably 10,000 people each year who have meetings here. We knew sometimes there were some deficiencies. We’re glad to not just address them, but enhance what we can do here.”

The meeting room has always come with the option to be divided into two separate spaces. One side had technology, but the other side did not. Now, both sides of the room will have the tech.

“We added cameras, enhanced the sound system, and made it a lot easier for people like me who are not tech-centric to use our devices,” she said.

The improvements also include two upgraded projectors and screens, more plug and play and user-friendly features and adaptive hearing devices for people who are hard of hearing.

The project, completed last week, had a cost of $129,704, supplied by Friends of the Library, and engineer and contractor Mechdyne donated $10,000.

“Technology is not cheap,” Rosenblum said. “It’s a nice, refreshed overhaul of the room.”

Since the completion, the room has been used for a board meeting and to show the classic movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” starring the recently deceased Hollywood legend Robert Redford and the late Paul Newman. Rosenblum said people could definitely tell the difference.

“People commented about the movie, about the sound,” she said. “The picture was better. Before the picture was smaller, and now we can fill the screen. It’s much better.”

Mechdyne Account Manager Brent Redman said that in addition to all of the aforementioned tech, they installed microphones in the ceiling, indicated by glowing green lights.

“If they do a big meeting and everyone is sitting in here, these will capture the audience’s response, and the far end of the room will be able to hear,” he said. “It’s like doing a meeting from your laptop, just in a bigger space. They didn’t have these capabilities before.”

Plus, when the room is divided into two spaces, Redman said people will not have to worry about being interrupted by the other side. They will be completely separated.

After telling the ribbon cutting attendees about the technology upgrades, Rosenblum showed the plans for the library’s next project, which she expects to take six to eight months, involving a new study room, social meeting rooms and a social lounge. She added that the process is slated to begin in January.

“We’re not sure what we’re going to call it yet, but it will be a social gathering space,” she said. “We’re excited.”