Patrons walk over patched sections of carpet at the Carson City Library in Carson City, Nev., on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. The library will close on Dec. 10 for up to eight weeks while crews install new flooring and paint the interior. Photo by Cathleen Allison/Nevada Momentum
Carson City Library staff will soon begin packing up materials in anticipation of closing for up to eight weeks during a project to refresh the interior.
“We will have 10 days to pack up nearly 90,000 items to place into storage containers,” said Sena Loyd, library director. “We are going to do our best to serve our patrons during the process.”
Packing of reference materials will begin Dec. 5 and the library will close Dec. 10. After that, the inside of the library will be painted, and carpet on the first floor will be changed to concrete flooring.
“Most of the carpet in the library has not been replaced in more than 20 years,” Loyd said. “Concrete flooring allows the city to provide more efficient maintenance, removal of allergens and a cleaner, finished look.”
She said the improvements are long overdue.
“We average 1,000 people coming through our doors every day,” Loyd said. “We’re open seven days a week; that’s a lot of wear and tear.”
It’s going to mean changes for patrons as well.
Deadlines will be extended for most items checked out of the library.
Most books, CDs, playaways and magazines checked out after Nov. 1 will be due Feb. 15.
New books, DVDs, blu-rays, Kindles and digital equipment checked out after Dec. 1 will also have deadlines extended until Feb. 15 or after. The library is encouraging patrons to hang onto these items until it reopens.
Due dates for items that are not part of the Carson City Library collection, such as hold requests from other libraries, won’t be extended and should be returned via the bookdrops at the library or City Hall.
Patrons placing holds on items at home must select a location other than the Carson City Library for pickup. The closest is the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records, 100 N. Stewart St. Items from Carson City Library will be in storage and impossible to retrieve.
While the library is closed, patrons can check out materials at a number of pop-up locations throughout the community:
Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Dec. 18-22
Studio at Adams Hub for Innovation, 111 W. Proctor St., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Dec. 26-29 and Jan.2-5.
The pop-up will continue at the Hub for Innovation on Jan. 6 from 1 to 5 p.m. during the Downtown Business Association wine walk.
Story Time, Book Club and Citizenship Classes will also be held at various locations throughout the community.
Library card holders will be able to access free wireless internet service at Nevada State Library, 100 N. Stewart St.; and the Supreme Court Library, 201 S. Carson St., Suite 200. Free public wifi through the city is also available at Bob McFadden Plaza, Carson and Third streets.
“We are grateful to our community partners for allowing us to borrow their locations, receive our patrons’ holds, and reach out to the community. Without them we would have extremely limited library services while we’re closed,” Loyd said.
The library will reopen later in January, and a grand re-opening is scheduled for Feb. 16 when the new floor plan is revealed.