Renovations at Cape Girardeau public library nearly complete

Director Betty Martin expects her nearly completed public library to be nothing less than "wonderful."

Completion is tentatively set for Feb. 3, with opening expected in March. The library has been housed in a temporary location at 301 S. Broadview since October 2007, and construction at 711 N. Clark began in November of that year. The project includes renovating the old library and adding a new section.

"We're getting there," says Martin. "I think the general public will love it. It's an exciting time for the library. The library will be an asset to the community, and not just a building."

Currently completed areas include brickwork, a new roof, drywall in the old section, heating and air conditioning, plumbing and electricity. Next on the to-do list is the parking lot, windows, tiling in the restrooms, and enclosing the building. Once construction is finished, the library will take on several week-long projects like installing shelves and furniture, setting up technology, and moving their collections.

The original building was completely gutted, leaving only the floor, roof and pillars. Martin notes that reconfiguring the building in this way has saved a great deal of money.

The size of the library will more than double, increasing the area from nearly 19,000 square feet to a spacious 40,000 square feet. With that increased area comes more meeting space, a feature always in high demand.

The original building had only one meeting room that was booked about 40 times per month, even after many groups were turned away for lack of space. The new building will have twice as much meeting space, including one large room with a dividing wall. A conference room will hold up to 16 people and three smaller rooms will be available for tutoring and groups of four to six.

"We'll have lots of space for a variety of people," says Martin.

Another new feature will be separate sections geared toward children, teens and adults. Martin says it was difficult to contain noise in the old building, but now, kids will be able to "make as much noise as they want and not bother anyone else," she says.

The new library will offer 10 times as much space with comfortable, living room-style seating. In addition, the number of computers will triple, wireless access will be available throughout the building, and the ever-popular genealogy collection will have its own room.

The improvements at the library extend both inside and outside.

"We have a wonderful new grand entrance that stands 153 feet tall," says Martin. This, along with more windows, will improve the overall visibility of the library, she says. While the original library had windows on only two sides of the building, the new one will have windows on all four sides. A terrace area will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and there will even be a "clear story" of upper level windows for even more natural light.

According to Martin, the library currently has about 18,000 cardholders. She says it's tradition that when any library undergoes such renovations, library usage will double.

"I hope people come to the library and stay for a long stretch of time, visiting with friends and checking out books," she says. "It will be a busy place that people will enjoy coming to because of the wonderful environment."