At a recent forum, officials with the Alpena County Library warned the public that temporary at least partial closures of the library are impossible to avoid as the building undergoes major renovations.

The renovations, which include asbestos abatement and much-needed upgrades to the heating and cooling systems to alleviate humidity that was damaging the books, were made possible by voters’ approval in August of a 20-year renewal of the property tax that funds library operations.

While details of the renovation plans still are being worked out, “it may be possible that we have to move to a temporary location or locations during this,” Director Eric Magness-Eubank said at the forum.

Under the current plan, the $3.6 million in renovations will consolidate the library’s two entryways into one on Park Place, expand the entryway to the pillars outside of the building, install a new staircase and handicap-accessible elevator, create more open space and natural lighting on the first floor, add a new handicap-accessible bathroom, and create a more centrally located space for children and teens.

Few things are as important to a community as its public library, which not only offers educational opportunities and the gift of the written word, but also houses many historical archives of our community.

We’re excited to see what the library looks like at the end of this, and we hope the community is, too.

In the meantime, we hope you’ll have patience with the library while it undergoes this transformation.

We know it’ll be an inconvenience for awhile, but we’re also sure it’ll be worth it in the end.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)