Beginning in mid-June, the Tempe Public Library will be receiving an interior makeover to bring it up to date with the 21st century.
The nearly 20-year-old library will feature new furniture, carpet and computers, said Teri Metros, director of the library.
The current fixtures and appliances are too old, and the library itself was built for a different time and place when libraries were used for something different, she said.
“The building was designed before the Internet, so it is definitely time for an upgrade,” Metros said.
The design is finalized, and officials have incorporated everything the public wanted, Metros said.
Among the additions to the remodel, a teen station, a quiet room and family computing areas will be added to the first level, Metros said.
“The children have always been a huge priority with us,” Metros said about the new teen station and family computing rooms.
Metros added that the teen room is being added to offer this age group its own space to work and hang out, equipped with computers, desks and lounge furniture.
Additional armchair seating will be included in the upgrade to accommodate people with laptops.
Metros added that although the library will be losing staff members because of the budget, the staff will be more approachable by being available out from behind the counters.
“We are trying to not make [people] run from countertop to countertop,” she said. “We’re going to offer a new service counter and we will send our staff out into the stack areas,” she said.
The library will remain open during the renovation, over a period of 16 to 18 months, Metros said.
“It will be a long time because we’re staying open for business, but I believe the remodeled version will be efficient as we are already a busy library,” she said.
The first level will be remodeled over the summer, and the second level will hopefully be remodeled in the fall, Metros said.
Last Thursday, the Tempe City Council approved an $87,920 contract to upgrade the library.
Tempe councilwoman Onnie Shekerjian said the City Council approved this project to be on the ballot, but only after asking Tempe residents if this is something they wanted done.
According to a 2007 City of Tempe Citizen Survey, 89 percent of Tempe residents said they were satisfied with the quality of library services, yet felt that it needed the most attention from the city and wanted to see improvements over the following year.
Shekerjian said it is important for Tempe residents to understand that the current issues with the state budget will in no way affect or burden the library redesign.
“People might be under the impression that this is a terrible thing to do during this time with the budget crisis, but this is bond money that is being used and does not come from the general fund,” Shekerjian said.
The money for the redesign comes from a separate capital development fund, which comes from property taxes, she said.
The Tempe community voted for the city to do these projects, she added.
“Everyone outside of the Tempe community has always thought of Mill
Avenue and downtown as the central part of Tempe, yet the people within the community have always considered the library as the meeting place,” she said. “It really is the centermost part of our community.”
Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman said the improvements will be better technologically and architecturally, and will have an even greater accessibility for all the people who use it.
“The city of Tempe has developed a strong commitment to our cultural roots and our community spaces,” Hallman said in an e-mail.
Metros said a public meeting will be held for the residents in the next months to answer questions and take comments before the library begins construction.
“This is going to be the information center for the city and a great gathering place,” she said. “It is just going to be a bright and shiny, well-running facility for Tempe.”
Reach the reporter at brianna.mattox@asu.edu.
