CENTRAL HARLEM — Thurgood Marshall Academy senior Danielle Mosley said it was always a challenge for her and her classmates to use the school’s library.
Some of the bookshelves were too tall, making texts unreachable, and the technology was outdated.
“We always struggled having four computers,” she said.
School principal Sean Davenport agreed.
“It looked like a library, but an elementary school library,” he said of the school at 214 W. 135th St., which serves sixth- through 12-graders.
But on Thursday, retailer Burlington unveiled the $80,000 in renovations it made to the library, transforming it to a state-of-the-art "media center," Davenport said.
The library was packed will all-new features, including 25 laptop computers, a smart board and new furniture, among other additions.
“It was a space, but now it’s an opportunity,” the principal said. “It’s theirs and it fits them.”
With the additional technology and new design, students will have better access to resources for help with classwork, college applications and studying, he added.
Bill Vasil, regional vice president for Burlington, said it's part of the company’s mission to give back when it opens a new store in a community, after the retailer debuted a new location on West 125th Street and Lenox Avenue last year.
The company partnered with Donors Choose to select the school, he noted.
