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.

As 2024 gets underway, our library construction project continues to gather steam.  Our project partners, McKee Associates (general contractor) and Dimension IV (architecture and design), also remain top-notch collaborators.  Take a look at our current status:

• New walls famed-in 
• Concrete poured
• Electrical work in progress
• Plumbing refinements gaining ground 
• Basement leaks repaired
• Plans generating for service switch to 2nd floor

The lead time for new bathroom fixtures has been extended, unfortunately, and will cause our timeline to do the same. The last full week in February is now our predicted end of this phase of construction.  At that point library service to patrons will change floors, from the first to the second, and will require a short library closure of a few days.  

Although that transition will bring many challenges, we are excited to bring services to the second floor! Storytime and Music + Movement will return, hopefully as of March 4.  Get your kiddos ready—we are missing our smallest friends!

Rest assured, we will inform our community as soon as we have firm dates for the next set of changes to our service.  As always, stop in or call if you have any questions.