EAST LANSING, Mich. — The East Lansing Public Library (ELPL), 950 Abbot Road, will be closed to the public Dec. 7-Jan. 10 to prepare the building for an eight- to nine-month renovation project.
During the closure, the library’s collection will be moved to the south side of the building, collection items that will not fit in the reduced floor plan will be packed up and stored and a construction wall will be built. No items will be due until after the library re-opens on Jan. 11.
While the library is closed, all digital resources will remain available to patrons, the ELPL book drop will be open and StoryTimes and the Teen After School Drop-in Program will be hosted at All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbot Road. In addition, the ELPL 2.0 Maker Studio’s hours will be expanded and the space will be utilized for programming, the drop off of items and the pickup of hold requests, including MeLCAT holds. The 2.0 Maker Studio will also house a small collection of items from the library and a limited number of public computers.
The 2.0 Maker Studio is located on the second floor of the East Lansing Marriott at University Place, 300 M.A.C. Ave., and the expanded hours (excluding holidays) from Dec. 7-Jan. 10 will be:
Tuesday-Thursday, noon-8 p.m.
Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Beginning Dec. 7 and through the duration of the renovation project, the Friends of the East Lansing Public Library will not be able to accept book/collection donations due to a lack of storage space. Community members are encouraged to donate their books and collection items to neighboring libraries and other organizations. The Friends will resume collecting items in earnest once ELPL is fully renovated.
When the library re-opens on Jan. 11, approximately one-third of the floor space and collection will be accessible to patrons and the first phase of the renovation project will be underway. ELPL staff would like to thank patrons in advance for their patience during the closure and throughout the renovation.
About the RenovationELPL will undergo an exciting renovation of its interior thanks to a very generous donation of $1.5 million from a library patron.
“This is a wonderful gift to the library and the community,” said ELPL Director Kristin Shelley. “We have the opportunity to create the library that the East Lansing community deserves.”
The renovation will transform ELPL into a community hub and learning space. The children’s area will be moved and enhanced with an early childhood literacy area, the teen space and Maker Studio will be expanded, a cyber café with vending machines will be added, a family bathroom will be built and the floor plan of the library will be reconfigured to create more open space. The library’s collection will be moved around as part of the renovation, but the number of items in the collection will be close to the same.
The renovation will also allow ELPL to plan for the future with added data and electrical outlets, mobile shelving/furniture and small group meeting spaces.
The renovation project is slated to be completed by August 2016. Community members with questions about the project or the temporary closure of the library can call (517) 351-2420.