ARLINGTON -- About a year ago, leaders at the Martha Canfield Library held a number of focus groups to determine what improvement projects would be best pursued. Library Director Phyllis Skidmore said one of the needs identified was that there was not much at the library for middle- and high school-age students.

She said a donor had approached the library wanting to help and the renovation project was suggested to her. She said the work was done in three phases and included the creation of rooms for reading and young people. More shelves have been added for books and next there will be more space added to the office, and a number of study carrels for students or people doing work that requires some privacy, such as taxes.

Visitors to the library won't see much of a difference in layout, Skidmore said, aside from the new shelves and reading rooms. The work cost about $20,000, and the donor is currently anonymous.

Another project funded through multiple donations has been the addition of air conditioning and the replacement of a dehumidifier. That work cost about the same as the renovations, Skidmore said.

Planning for these projects began in 2010 and were largely complete over 2011, but look to be wrapped up this year.

She said the library would like to hire another part-time employee, one with knowledge and experience in working with children, to supplement the new rooms aimed at those younger groups. The library currently employs three part-time people,

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including Skidmore.