Vigo County library is getting a facelift

VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Vigo County Library patrons will be noticing some big changes in the next month.

The library began some major renovations last week.

The renovations will include replacing carpet with wood floors, installing new self-check stations, and an automated material return. The renovations will also include adding more laptop work stations.

The automated material return will allow patrons to use a slot to return their materials. It will then automatically scan the material and place it in a sorting bin.

Library Director Nancy Dowell said they're trying to automate the check in and out of library materials.

The new self-check stations and automated return should help speed up the process.

Dowell said this should please a certain demographic.     

“The young people and teenagers have been asking for this for quite a long time,” said Dowell.

Dowell attributes the need for renovations as a good sign, a chance for the library to make their area more inviting and attractive to patrons.

“I’ve always thought that renovation is exciting. I think that we’ve, because when we’ve closed the branches, we increased such a high volume of patrons, that we saw our floor coverings deteriorate, because our traffic increased so much,” Dowell said.

The library has closed their meeting room complex in order to finish the lower level and lobby.

Dowell said they hope they can remain open during the entire renovation process. They may have to close one of the entrances as they finish the other entrance.

The lobby renovations begin next week.

They're hoping the renovations will be complete by mid-November.