Library Construction Update: New and Renovated Buildings, 09/07/12

King County Library System, WA (the Library Journal 2011 Library of the Year), has added to its considerable services with the August 25 opening of the new 8000 square foot ­Duvall Library. The yearlong project replaces the old library with a new facility nearly three times its size (see Hotline, 8/22/11). The $4.39 million branch, designed by Johnston Architects, was funded through a $172 million capital bond measure approved in 2004. The new library encompasses an enlarged children’s section; a dedicated Teen Zone; expanded collections, including more access to ebooks; a community meeting room; and a wood and resin sculpture by local artist John Grade. The library is on target for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for sustainability. Green features include a ground source heat pump, energy-efficient lighting, the incorporation of low-VOC materials, and the installation of a green roof.

The 8000 square foot ­Bishops Corner Branch Library, West Hartford, CT, will reopen following a $1 million renovation to the original 1965 structure. The $200,000 fund­raising campaign for interior upgrades was recently met after substantial contributions from the William and Alice Mortensen Foundation and the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Construction upgrades were funded through bond funds and a grant from the State of Connecticut, according to the West Hartford Patch. The project includes a refurbished children’s area and story room, the addition of children’s computer workstations, a dedicated teen space, and new adult computer ­stations.

The Peñitas Public Library, TX, closed in late May for a $100,000 makeover to upgrade space and collections. Part of the plan includes remodeling a former Head Start operation, which will help to increase the usable square footage to a total of 5,277 square feet. The funding for the refurbishment of the 15-year-old library comes from an Urban County renovation grant.

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