Library renovations progressing
Published 2:17 pm Tuesday, July 12, 2016
The Greenville-Butler County Public Library, which is currently operating on a limited basis as it undergoes renovations, will close near the end of the month to allow contractors to complete planned renovations for the Community Room. The libraray should reopen Aug. 19. (Courtesy photo)
Renovations to the Greenville-Butler County Public Library are proceeding as scheduled, according to Director Kevin Pearcey.
“We’re still on time with our plan for reopening the entire facility about the middle of August,” he said. “Work is scheduled to be finished on Aug. 1. Of course, we’ll need time to move in our new shelving and furniture for installation and as well as receive and reorganize the bulk of our collection, which is currently in storage offsite. We’re looking at opening up and being fully operational by Friday, Aug. 19.”
Drivers along Fort Dale Street may have also noticed portions of the sign in front of the library has been demolished. Pearcey said the Board of Trustees also wanted to address deterioration of the sign during the renovation project.
“The contractor is going to replace that with a granite surface and new lettering so it will be much more attractive and able to withstand the elements better,” he said.
The library is currently open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, on a limited service basis inside the Community Room. Newer books, DVDs and audio CDs are available for checkout. A copier is also available. Additionally, the library has set up several tables of donated books that are available for sale to the public at the cost of .25 cents per book.
Pearcey said even the limited service currently offered is likely to be interrupted at some point this month: workers will need to begin removing and replacing carpet and repainting the Community Room so it will be ready by Aug. 1.
“We’ll likely have to be closed for an extended period of time starting sometimes at the end of this month,” he said. “Not only will the contractor have to start on and finish the Community Room, but we’ll need some time after they’re done to get everything set up and ready for the public before our grand re-opening. It’s not something we really want to do, but we ask the public to please bear with us as we make this transition. We believe everyone is going to be extremely happy with how everything has come together and how nice it’s going to look.”
