Normal Public Library officially reopened Friday after a 16-month renovation that added an all-ages makerspace, nursing lounge, and other improvements.
The $6.5 million project also dealt with asbestos remaining in the 1973 portion of the building. At the same time, the renovations added spaces to the Children’s Discovery Room, a teen hangout section, private study rooms, the nursing lounge, the all-ages makerspace, and new lights, floors and furniture.
Funding for the renovations came from library reserves, support from the Normal Public Library Foundation, and state grants and debt services.
Library director John Fischer said some highlights of the building include a new staircase design and LED lighting. Fischer said there will be more offerings for teens in the future aside from the added teen hangout section.
“Eventually, we’ll have a digital display on the wall so teen programming can happen in here as well,” Fischer said.
The library's main building near Uptown Normal closed in March 2024 as asbestos abatement and renovations began. Curbside pickup and limited services were offered at a small building which formerly housed a franchise of Busey Bank across the street south of the main building.
Patron Experience Manager Laura Golaszewski said curbside pickup proved successful during the renovation period.
“Most folks were pretty happy with the solution we came up with,” Golaszewski said. “[It was] right across the street so the location is kind of hard to beat. We had our fantastic staff over there providing great customer service, and I think we were able to get really creative over there, so it did meet our expectations.”
“Over the course of the last 16 months, we’ve done our best to meet our needs as best we can, but we’re so thrilled people can be back in the building,” Golaszewski said.
Golaszewski said she feels the best elements of the old library design are still present even after the renovation.
“Certainly, there’s some nostalgia for what we had before, but I think we did a really good job maintaining a lot of the elements that people really loved, like the exposed brick. And there’s a lot of architectural features that you couldn’t see before [but] now you can really see the design of the building,” Golaszewski said.
Photographer and Bloomington-Normal resident Calli Duncan came to the library on reopening day with her two children, who took a shine to the crafting tables on the children’s floor.
“Really excited so far. My kids love crafting, so it’s a great free place to come to get out of the house,” Duncan said. “Everything feels very well-organized, clean and a little more open and clearer."
Custodian Rhett Relleke said he feels the changes to the facility were necessary.
“There’s just a lot of all-around improvements. Everything else was 40 years old, so it was about time,” Relleke said.
Certain parts of the library remain unopened due to technology and furniture that is still needed. These spaces, once completed, will become the used book sales area, all-ages makerspace, the Board Room and the Community Room. Curbside pickup is now available at the main building.
“Invite everyone in the community to come see their library; I think that there’s something for everybody here and we designed it with that in mind, so we’re really hoping the community will come out and use the space we created for them,” Golaszewski said.
