Incorporation of the geothermal technology, comprising a geothermal heating and cooling system, was part of a $2.7 million renovation project. It will keep the building cool in the summer and eliminate the need of natural gas to heat the facility in the winter, resulting in substantial energy cost savings for the library.
The renovation has integrated the modern technology into the historic building to provide comfortable, accessible and environment-friendly library spaces for the public. New monumental front entrance stairs have been created, which mimic the original plans of the library’s main entrance.
The building will feature a sky-lit reading lounge and day-lit popular library to welcome the guests. Updated Children’s Room has been updated to accommodate additional computers, wireless technology and outlets for portable electronic devices.
To ensure accessibility within all the three levels of the library, an elevator has been installed. The building’s basement features a large meeting room that can accommodate up to 100 people, while the second floor contains a smaller seminar room. The renovation also included the reconditioning of existing windows, insulation and a new slate roof.
The renovated library is one of the four locations in the city to host the Labs@ CLP, a digital media lab and free space for teenagers to mingle. The Labs offers computers, equipment such as iPads and software for filmmaking, photography, graphic design, digital crafts, music production, stop-motion animation and more.
