We’re almost there! While construction is nearly complete, we still have shelving and furniture to arrive. Plus, we have a lot of books to move around to make everything ready for you! The library will be closed June 3 through June 15 for these final big changes.

When we reopen on Monday, June 17, both floors will be open, with all collections available to browse. We can’t wait for you to see the whole space! Summer Reading and our summer events will also begin on June 17.

Consider June 17 our soft opening—some final details and finishes will be added over the next few months, and we'll hold a Grand Opening in the fall.

 We are coasting toward the finish line! Both patrons and staff have adapted very well to operations on the 2nd floor, and our patrons have enjoyed seeing the gorgeous new teen room and other features. Work continues in the less-visible areas, as well. Changes to the basement level are virtually complete. Plus, the construction crew is hard at work on the 1st floor in the lobby, checkout, and staircase areas.
 
Our beautiful new staircase is growing inside the barricade cocoon. The photo included here gives you a sneak peek: its smaller footprint allows more patron space on the first and second floors! Other features of the staircase include built-in seating and display space. We're also really looking forward to the new set of front doors, which will make the library even more accessible. Plus, they will be much easier for staff to lock, making our work smoother and our library more secure after hours.
 
We know you have one big question: when will both floors be accessible together? Right now, we're hoping for mid-May. We can't properly express how much we appreciate the patience of our patrons as we look forward to unveiling these much-needed updates. It truly is exciting to see the project come together around the wonderful community that visits our library.

What a week we had last week!  We trust you love the usual spaciousness of the library just as much as we do. Presently, it’s sectioned into numerous small spaces to manage dust and ensure everyone's safety. As we gaze over the former vastness, we encounter a compact plastic enclosure while strategizing the optimal route to each destination. For a few days, accessing the restroom required both an elevator journey and a brief outdoor excursion from one building entrance to another.

Then came the demolition. The original staircase has vanished to make room for a new, more secure design. The familiar checkout counter has been dismantled. Many shelves have been relocated to free up space. Our internal moving team has worked tirelessly to ensure the construction crew has the access it needs. We’ve encountered challenges, such as false fire alarms, elevator breakdowns, and delayed materials delivery. It has also been the noisiest period thus far. Nonetheless, witnessing the rapid pace of transformation is exhilarating!

Looking forward, we aim to resume operations on the 18th. There might be a potential setback, but we are working with the general contractor’s site manager to prevent such a scenario, as we are eagerly anticipating reconnecting with you, our patrons. Your patience is very much appreciated.

The project is really coming along on the second floor! Last week, architect Ray White visited the library to confer with Eric, site manager. 

Carpet has been installed and walls have been painted in the new Teen Room and the Literacy Council Room. The new blue and familiar orange colors look fantastic! 

Workers are currently tiling the restrooms in the basement and on the second floor, with a sleek new look. 

The library and construction teams are hard at work to coordinate a two-week closure of the library for loud, heavy work to take place on the central staircase. Tentatively, the library will be closed the first two full weeks in March. Additionally, during this time, library staff will prepare for providing service on the second floor. 

We're so excited to share the new space with you! Stay tuned for more details.

We're inching ever closer to the halfway point of the renovation as work continues on the second floor and basement. As we view the new work behind the scenes, we can really see a solid skeleton. The future layout is well defined and each new space has the studs at minimum. The rooms seem larger than we imagined. We hope they'll still feel that way when they're furnished!

A team member was watching the work going on through a security camera and noticed that she could see the outline of the old Monroe Clinic exam rooms on the bare floor where the adult fiction was. Watch for a photo on social media to have a look for yourself!

Along the way, we've had to make a few modifications to the plan after discovering some of the building’s secrets. There are support structures where we did not expect them, so we've had to go higher or lower, to the right or to the left. We don't think the changes will be noticeable.

Patrons have continued to be accepting about the limitations they are facing, and adults, teens, and children are using the same spaces very well together. We've actually been seeing a large increase in our teens coming in; and they've been very well behaved.

Looking ahead, both the library team and the patrons will find themselves adjusting again, as we make the change from the 2nd floor being closed to the 1st floor being closed. We'll be closed for 3-5 days when that happens, and our patrons will come back to yet another new experience.