Mike Wolanin | The Republic The reference section and computers available to the public are located where movies and music used to be at the Bartholomew County Public Library in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2023.
A months-long project to replace every flooring surface in the Bartholomew County Public Library’s Columbus branch is nearly complete.
The teen, reference, nonfiction and graphic novel sections have reopened, and there are no longer any sections that are closed for work. He expects the project to be fully complete by mid-August pending some final touches, according to library Director Jason Hatton.
“We are basically done,” he said. “We just have some punch list items that we are going to go over early next week just to make sure everything gets done according to the standards that we want it to get done to. But the companies have done amazing jobs, and our staff is amazing and has made it work, so we’re really more than a month ahead of schedule, which is really fantastic. So we’re thrilled.”
Previous estimates have put the project cost at about $800,000. Hatton said in a previous interview that “every single flooring surface” in the library was being updated as part of the work.
The project initially began in March, with the library closing for a week so that work could be completed on the front entryway and other areas. Since then, smaller closures have occurred in phases, with various sections of the library being shut down for work.
“It was a big game of Tetris,” said Hatton.
In addition to the new flooring being in place, certain materials have been moved around.
The teen collection is now located just outside the former Indiana Room, which will eventually become a programming space for teens and the new home for teen department staff. However, for the time being, the room is being used as the library’s main programming space to provide accessibility until modernization work is finished on the elevator, Hatton said.
Additionally, the reference department and graphic novels have moved to the former DVD area. DVDs and audiobooks have moved into the former reference desk area, and the Library of Things will be moving there soon as well. Hatton said that while Library of Things materials are accessible, they are still working to assemble the section in its new location.
The library is working on signage and “other directional pieces” to make sure people know where to find things, Hatton said. However, these will take a bit longer to install.
Once work is finished on the elevator, the library plans to have a special event to “show off the space to the entire public,” he said.
“To me, it already looks like a brand new building,” said Hatton. “…I’m just so pleased on how it turned out, and (the new flooring) has just warmed up the space so much. It’s brightened up the spaces. I like the words that our architect, Louis Joyner — who was amazing throughout this entire project — he said, ‘It just looked right.’ ”
