Minnesota: Two St. Paul Libraries Reopen With Bigger, Brighter Look

From The Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

After nearly a year of renovation work, St. Paul is reopening two of its anchor libraries with expanded areas for kids, more community meeting space and a lot more windows.
On Sunday, the newly dubbed Highland Park Community Center will open its renovated library and recreational facilities to the public with a program featuring speeches, music, presentations by the architects and refreshments.
A similar ceremony kicked off the reopening last weekend of the Sun Ray branch library on the city’s East Side.
The cost of the two projects was $13.5 million, with $7 million coming from the city.
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The renovated library is more than 40 percent larger than it was before. The additional space was added without a change in the building’s footprint.
Bigger spaces for teens and children emphasize interactive learning, Hadley said. There will be a single service point, combining check-out and reference functions, and more room for community meetings.
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Similar changes were made at Sun Ray, where more space was added for group and individual learning. A new glass wall on the south side created more interior space and allows for more daylight, Hadley said, and a public plaza and outdoor reading garden were added as well.

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See Also: Additional Info About the Libraries (Including Floor Plans)

Filed under: Libraries, News