Tuesday, April 6, 2021
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Vol. 48 No. 52
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Elkhart Public
Library updating all four branches %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 $VVRFLDWH (GLWRU It’s an impressive undertaking. Elkhart Public Library is in the process of renovating all four of its branch libraries. Construction began in the Dunlap branch, located at 58485 CR 13, Elkhart, and the Cleveland branch, 53715 CR 1, Elkhart, Jan. 20. According to Kevin J. Kilmer, assistant director for branch and technical services, the Dunlap and Cleveland branches are expected to re-open to patrons late this summer. Once they are open to the public, the Pierre Moran and Olso branches will close for renovations. They are expected to re-open in March 2022. Kilmer explained the idea was to keep a branch open on both the north and south sides of Elkhart while the other two branches were under construction. The $4.5 million project is being funded through a bond along with $500,000 from the library’s improvement fund. Ideas for the project were developed during the last few years with patrons invited to provide input during the library’s strategic planning process in 2018. Kilmer said he’s been working in the branches for 24 years and was pushing for the upgrades. Once it became a reality, he said the idea of tackling it was a bit daunting. Still, Kilmer said it’s been a fun project to work on. “It’s been a great collaboration between the construction firm, the architect and myself,” he said. “I’ve been able to make some good decisions on what will best serve patrons.” The design firm is MKM architecture + design of Fort Wayne, while the contractor is Wilburn Construction, Mishawaka. The oldest branch library in the system was built in 1984 and according to Kilmer hadn’t been touched since. It even had the same paint scheme. The youngest branch library in the system was built in 2000. All four branch libraries were constructed with books being the focus. Under the renovation plan, all four branches will have small meeting rooms for up to 10 people. Kilmer said library staff hope the rooms will be used for small meetings by the community as well as serving as quiet study areas, spaces for tutors and their pupils to work and for supervised family visits. In three of the branches, the circulation desk will be moved from the center of the room and placed in a corner. The Cleveland branch will have its circulation desk remodeled from a U-shape to a more streamlined straight line. The idea behind moving the circulation desks is to provide more space for patrons to lounge and relax while at the library. “Our architect talks about the place you live, the place you go to work and the place
&+(&.,1* 287 7+ ( 352&(66 ³ Kevin Library, checks out the J. Kilmer, assistant dir ector, branch & techn progress at the Dunla ical services for the Elk p branch of the library. will be undergoing ren All four branch libraries hart Public ovations and upgrade in the Elkhart Public Lib s with the work expecte rary system d to be completed in 2022. Photo by Laure n Zeugner. you go to be part of the community,” Kilmer said. The Cleveland branch is the largest of the four branches at approximately 8,000 square feet. The other three will be brought up to roughly that size with room additions which will provide larger meeting and program space. Pierre Moran and Oslo branches will each have a new children’s area. “We hope with the addition of program space we can have more adult programming,” Kilmer said. All the libraries will also include improved technology so patrons more technologically inclined will find the collections of books and movies easier to browse. Kilmer said he hoped patrons will enjoy the new spaces when they are complete. He did express concern for patrons who believe libraries should be strictly about books. All the branches will be losing some stack space. Cleveland will lose the most at 25% while the rest will lose under 10%. The upgrades will also make the Olso and Pierre Moran branches more accessible to those (;3$16,21 &20,1* ³ Foundation work is underway at the Dunlap with disabilities. Both were built prior to the branch of the Elkhart Public Library. A new addition will provide a larger meetAmericans with Disabilities Act going into efing and programming space. Photo by Lauren Zeugner. fect.