Sneak A Peek at the Olney Library’s New Look
The newly renovated Olney Community Library and Arts Center is preparing to reopen to the public with a refreshed interior, new furnishings and reimagined spaces designed to better serve patrons of all ages. The library, which closed in November for renovations, will hold a tentative grand opening on Monday, Jan. 26, from 4–6 p.m., Library Director Lori Cox said. The reopening was pushed back by about two weeks after a delay in receiving carpet slowed the rest of the installation work.
While final touches continue, public computer access will resume earlier. Library computers, printers and the fax machine will be available beginning Monday, Jan. 12, as staff work to complete setup and return books to the shelves, Mrs. Cox said.
As part of the approximately $300,000 renovation, library staff culled approximately 4,500 books from the collection.
“We got rid of the books that had not been checked out for more than a decade, and the books that were damaged,” Mrs. Cox said.
Although the layout and look of the library have changed, Mrs. Cox said the library continues to offer the same services and collections. In the main room, newspapers, DVDs and audiobooks remain, along with large-print books on the west side. Fiction titles are still shelved in the center of the room, with nonfiction books on the east side. Computer stations — including the Texas Workforce Commission computer — remain in their previous locations .
New features in the central space include three bright berry-colored study carrels designed for privacy, along with colorful chairs and small tables arranged for casual seating. New white shelving contrasts with textured blue-gray carpet tiles made from recycled plastic bottles.
The Texas Room remains in its original location, while the former Cub Den has been repurposed as the War Room. The space now houses memorabilia related to Medal of Honor recipient George D. Keathley, along with military books and artifacts. The room will also host the local Veterans Affairs representative who meets monthly with local veterans, Mrs. Cox said.
The children’s library is now separated from the main public area by a glass wall and doors. Those doors will remain closed during school hours and opened to the public when school is not in session. Library staff took care to preserve a mural of a tree painted by Carol Vorel in the children’s storytime area. Local craftsman Donald Ickert built a frame around the mural, allowing it to remain in place as a focal point that now resembles a large canvas. The new children’s library will feature chairs in primary colors, teal-and-white metal shelving and little tables for the kids.
In the conference room, new gray metal tables and black plastic chairs create a flexible space suitable for classes, receptions or parties. The room also features a new sink and refrigerator and is available for private rentals, Mrs. Cox said.
Behind the scenes, staff work areas received new cabinetry and desks, and the checkout desk was replaced with three separate desks. The former World War II room has been converted into a Teen Room, featuring two enveloping, eggshaped chairs that swivel and rock.
The latest renovation caps nearly two years of upgrades throughout the building. During that time, the library remodeled restrooms to meet Americans With Disabilities Act standards, upgraded lighting, installed new computers and television monitors, and added a virtual reality set.
Funded through grant money and private donations, the renovation gives the nearly 50-yearold library a thoroughly updated interior while preserving its role as a community gathering place. The same library – with a new face.