Now that its fundraising goal has been met, the Macomb Public Library needs to determine the timeline for its renovation and expansion project.
Director Dennis Danowski estimated bid documents will go out to contractors within the next week or two. Contractors will have five weeks to submit bids for the project, which will be done in two phases.
“Phase one will be the renovation of the Carnegie building, and phase two will be the building of the two-story addition,” Danowski said.
He said the renovation project will provide the library with a new circulation desk, a small meeting room, a new security system, and more. He hoped the renovation can be completed by December.
While the renovation work is being done, the adult library will be moved across Jefferson Street to the annex building.
Once the renovation is completed, construction of the addition can begin. Danowski hoped that project can be completed by the end of 2014. The children’s library will be moved into the annex building while the addition is built.
Danowski said the annex building is small, so patrons will need to endure a little short-term pain for the long-term gain of the full project.
“We are going to be so limited in both services and materials, “ Danowski said. “But we’re going to do our best to supply all of the reading and e-book and Internet needs.”
Phase one will be the renovation of the Carnegie building, and phase two will be the building of the two-story addition
The library and its supporters managed to raise $794,025 locally before the end of June, which will allow the library to receive a state grant of $2.38 million to cover 75% of the cost of the renovation and expansion.
Even though the fundraising campaign came down to the wire, Danwoski never doubted the goal would be met.
“I believed from the word go that we were going to do this.”
Secretary of State Jesse White is expected to return to Macomb to give the library a ceremonial check, though a date for his visit has not been scheduled.
