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Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library Renovation Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to be held Tuesday, December 11th

Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library

Clarksville-Montgomery County Public LibraryClarksville, TN – Phase 1 of a major renovation of portions of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library have been completed. Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett will preside at a ribbon-cutting to officially open the renovation for use at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 11th, 2018.

The public is invited to this ribbon cutting and to tour the renovated areas and also to see a demonstration of the new book check-in and sorting machine.

Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library Phase 1 Renovation has been completed and a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, December 11th.
Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library Phase 1 Renovation has been completed and a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, December 11th.

Using a public/private funding partnership, the library, which was last renovated 21 years ago, has taken a big leap towards becoming the building that it needs to be to give the public a more updated, useful, attractive, inviting and comfortable experience.

A long overdue renovation of the library’s public restrooms was funded using the library’s reserve operating funds at a total cost of $180,000.00. The remainder of the renovation, called the Main Refresh, was funded with non-taxpayer Library Foundation monies controlled by the Library Board, in the amount of $300,500.00.

The following projects were included in the Main Refresh:

  • Renovation and enclosure of a dedicated teen space on the second floor including new carpeting, installation of a resilient floor for programming, and a dedicated gaming area.
  • Creation of three new multi-person study/meeting rooms where the reference print collection was previously located as well as refresh of the current two-person study rooms on the second floor
  • Creation of a quiet study area at one end of the genealogy room
  • Creation of a maker space / alternative meeting room on the first floor
  • Creation of a room that now houses the library’s new automated material handling sorting machine near the circulation desk and adjoining the lobby. This machine was purchased in October also using Foundation funding.

Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library Director Martha Hendricks stated at the beginning of the project, “This renovation is the beginning of a new phase. The library can really begin to reflect in the physical building the changes that we’ve already made in terms of where the library is today vs. where we were.”

Hendricks continued, “The library is becoming more of a community center, with meeting rooms being more important, for example. Brick and mortar facilities across the spectrum must upgrade to meet the demands of residents who want more when they make the decision to get in the car to drive to a place in this internet age”

“The Library Board, myself, and library staff also wanted to be sure that, with the likely coming of a branch library in north Clarksville, the current building has these upgrades now and is refreshed so that it remains the vibrant and distinctive place that it needs to be. This notion was definitely included in the library’s strategic planning,” said Hendricks.

Of note also – the large sculpture of cogs and wheels in the lobby – Patterns of Progress, by artist Tom Malone has been removed from that area and has been re-installed by staff of the Customs House Museum in the new maker space room. 

About the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library champions learning and reading, ignites imaginations, and delivers access to information and ideas. Learn more at www.mcgtn.org/library

The library is located at 230 Pageant Lane, Suite 501, Clarksville, TN.

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