In recent weeks, Luke Altemose has been working closely with the Friends of the Northampton Public Library to help the group improve the library's facilities.

The Friends is an organization comprised of members of the Northampton community whose mission is to help focus attention on the library, stimulate the use of the library's resources and assist in developing the library's services and facilities.

Beth Krempa, a member of the Friends, met Altemose through church.

"When I heard that there was a potential Eagle Scout looking for a project, I asked if he was interested in helping the library," Krempa said.

Altemose, who has been involved with the Boy Scouts for five years, needed to complete a service project that benefits the community in order to achieve the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.

With some assistance from his father and grandfather, and donations made by area businesses, Altemose was able to help the library make a number of improvements.

Altemose disassembled and rebuilt a long bookshelf that was located in the children's section of the library.

Using plans drawn up by Ted Newton, Altemose converted the single bookshelf into two separate units, in addition to refinishing all of the wood.

This change allows the shelves to be easily relocated and this opens up a lot of space in the children's area for programs.

Altemose also constructed a large wooden garbage bin located outside of the library. The new bin is much larger than the previous one, and is big enough to hold some of the large signs that the library often needs to dispose of.

He also took the time to repaint the entire flagpole near the entrance to the library.

"His work was a great benefit to the library," Krempa said.