Norwin Public Library has a refurbished book sale room, thanks to the effort of local Boy Scouts.

Andy Hawley, a junior at Norwin High School, spearheaded the efforts to spruce up the room as part of the certification for his Eagle Scout award. Working with fellow members of Boy Scout Troop 257 in Irwin, their parents and other volunteers, Hawley organized both the work and the teams that did it.

The project, which involved close coordination with library officials, took 314 man-hours to complete.

"It was a very in-depth project," said Hawley. "It was really a group effort."

In September and October of last year, teams of volunteers led by Hawley undertook the work. The room they started with was an unfinished basement, with stacks and boxes of books piled against unpainted concrete walls and steel doors.

In their free time on weekends, the scouts cleared out all the books stored in the rooms, taking special care to keep the books in order. They then painted the entire room, including walls, floor and doors, transforming it completely.

The Scouts also assembled and installed brand new shelving units, and then meticulously put back, in the same order, all the books they had taken out.

Hawley's work however, started even before a single book had been lifted. When he came up with the idea for the project, he had to go before the library's board of trustees and submit a proposal for the work.

The proposal required a fair amount of research on Hawley's part, particularly finding the best prices on construction materials while still ensuring quality parts.

"I don't think I've ever organized something this huge," said Hawley.

Library director Diana Falk said Hawley's efforts impressed her.

"He's really the overseer of the whole thing."

"I'd never worked with an Eagle Scout project before so I didn't know what to expect," said Falk. She said the results floored her, and she was grateful for the re-done room.

Falk said the library uses the room for its used book sale, and in past years library administrators had worried that the gray, unfinished room kept people from coming back. Now, with a cheery yellow glow, the finished room may even bring people in, she said.

While all Eagle Scout projects must revolve around community service, Hawley said the idea to work at the library came naturally to him.

"I thought it was a pretty easy choice. I'm an avid reader and have enjoyed the library for as long as I can remember," he said.

Hawley said he also attended numerous summer programs at the library while growing up.

"I thought it would be fitting to give back to a place that has benefited me so much."

The Eagle award caps an 11-year journey through the Scouting world for Hawley. He has been a patrol leader and a troop guide, and although only 21 merit badges are required to attain Eagle Scout status, Hawley earned 45, including 13 Eagle badges.

Hawley found out that he had received the honor last March. On May 25, he will receive his Eagle badge at a formal Court of Honor ceremony.

The Eagle badge is the highest award granted by the Boy Scouts of America.

In addition to completing a service project and earning the requisite number of merit badges, candidates must present letters of recommendation and character references, serve in a leadership position and pass a board of review.

According to the Boy Scouts of America, only 5 percent of Scouts receive the Eagle award.