Work is coming along on the new Galesburg Public Library.
Library Director Noelle Thompson tells WGIL that work on the parking lot is underway and the painting of the interior has begun. She says that work is expected to wrap up on the new location in the first half of the next year.
“It’s hard to give [an exact timeline] cause there’s so many moving pieces but we expect to see construction completed early next year. Then after that, we’ll have bookshelves delivered and installed, then our technology installed, then our furniture delivered, and then we’ll be moving our current building over. So, it’ll be a few months after construction ends before we’re actually able to open. We’re expecting the first half of next year.”
Among the many features of the new library is the community room which was funded through fundraising efforts by the library and a generous donation from the Galesburg Community Foundation. Thompson adds that the space can be reserved by non-profits, for-profits, or any group that is in need.
“Community room is a very literal name for that space. It’ll have a capacity of about 500 people and it’s equipped with a serving kitchen, nearby restroom access, and parking lot loading access. So that’s a space we’ll use for large library programs but then we’ll also make it available for groups to reserve for events as well.”
The first floor of the library is to be a children and teen space with some of the more popular items at the library. The second floor will be the adult collections and some of the quiet spaces that are more traditionally associated with the library. There will be more meeting spaces in the new building with lots of possibilities for reserving space and rooms equipped with AV equipment.
Tours are being offered of the new library space on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at noon. You can sign up for the tours here.
