Renovations began at Scotlandville Library
Expansion will include Black Heritage Alcove, gallery walls, garden story walk, laptop bars, expanded rooms, and outdoor community fridge
The Scotlandville Branch Library in East Baton Rouge Parish heads into its first phase of renovations thanks to a 10-year dedicated property tax.
Library officials, Mayor President Sharon Weston Broome, and Baton Rouge Councilwoman Chauna Banks met contractors and the public for a “gold shovel event” and groundbreaking earlier this week at the branch.
“We are very pleased that the renovation of the Scotlandville Branch Library has gotten off to a solid start,” said Library Co-Director Patricia Husband. “The Scotlandville Branch Library has served its residents well and is an anchor to the community. This project affirms the Library’s commitment to maintain the public’s investment throughout the parish by updating and expanding currently utilized facilities, as well as providing new indoor and outdoor spaces to benefit residents of the community.”
Phase One of the renovation will take an estimated 10 months. A total of $10,841,690 is budgeted for the entire project. The East Baton Rouge Parish City-Parish is the owner; the Library is the user. During construction, City-Parish Architectural Services and library staff will work with the architect and the general contractor to oversee the project. Funds for this pay-as-you-go project were amassed over time as part of the library’s 10-year dedicated property tax.
“The project will take place in two phases, which allows us to minimize disruption and loss of library services to the community. We will complete new construction of the Archives Annex in Phase One, which will eventually house archives and facilities. Once the Archives Annex is built, the Scotlandville Branch Library staff will temporarily provide essential library services from the Annex, while renovations and expansion take place on the Scotlandville Branch Library building during Phase Two. Upon the completion of Phase Two, Library staff and services will return to the newly renovated branch, and, at that time, facilities staff will occupy the Archives Annex, along with archive overflow from the Main Library at Goodwood,” said library co-Director Mary Stein.
The renovated library complex will include:
Increased square footage of 3,363 for a total of 21,191 square feet
Expanded and improved Children’s Room, including interactive technology and tactile learning
Distinct Teen Room with easy access to Collaborative Study and Program Spaces
Black Heritage Alcove with a dedicated area for Black Heritage collections and programming
New Teen’s and Children’s Program Rooms
Expanded Large Meeting Room with space for 120 attendees, including an updated stage, AV system, and concessions/serving areas
One Conference Room, Three Work/Study Rooms, Two Program Rooms
Laptop Bar
Gallery Walls for art displays
Vending machine area
Interior Intelligent Return for patron use
Updated Courtyard designed to accommodate outdoor events
Garden Story Walk
Protected overhand for convenient drop-offs
Outdoor space for Community Fridge
Bike Racks and Exterior Benches
Bike Repair Station
Separate Archive Annex/Maintenance Building of 7,211 square feet
This spacious and welcoming library will continue to offer the public a carefully selected collection of popular browsing materials for all ages and interests, including new books, audiobooks, music, DVDs, Blu-rays, magazines, and newspapers. The Black Heritage Alcove will provide a space for special exhibits and displays as well as a space for hosting programming related to Black American art and literature.
Technology will remain a strong feature of the renovated Scotlandville Branch, with robust WiFi, 56 computers with free access to the Internet (including the EBRPL Digital Library) as well as Microsoft Office 2016, with a smart table and two special AWE Early Literacy Workstations for preschoolers. In addition, the Library offers free public printing of up to 20 black-and-white pages per day, mobile printing through the PaperCut app, black-and-white and color copiers, and fax-on-demand.