The remodeling of the Callaway County Public Library in Fulton is nearing completion, and current plans are to reopen at the Court Street location before Thanksgiving. Workers are now installing ceiling panels and lights inside and completing the masonry work on the new main entrance. They are also painting and laying carpet, and the new reference desk has been installed. In addition, the bids for furniture and equipment have come in and both are at or below budget.

Right now (August), we are planning to move out of the temporary facility the second or third week in November. We are planning the dedication/grand reopening event for the Saturday after, either November 13 or 20.

In addition to new furniture, paint, carpet and shelving, the library also now has a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. Workers also made much-needed repairs to the restrooms and the staircase.

The south entrance has now been enlarged and converted to the new main entrance. The circulation and children’s desk will be on the lower level just inside this main entrance, as will the children’s materials and computers, and some lounge seating. The Friends Room remains in the same location, but a movable partition has been added to allow the room to be divided into two smaller meeting rooms.

Upstairs, the reference desk and a new computer lab are just around the corner from the elevator. The Cunningham Room has been converted into a staff work area and office for the library manager. The adult and teen materials, reference and genealogy resources, and the periodicals, audio books, videos, DVDs and CDs will all be in this area. There will also be lounge seating for patrons.

The old brown window shades have come down and the ceiling has been raised where possible, making the library much brighter throughout. The richly colored carpet, paint and furniture chosen for the library will create a warm, inviting atmosphere for reading, research and story times.