INDIANAPOLIS — After over ten months of extensive renovations, the Indianapolis Public Library’s Lawrence Branch officially reopened Friday.
The branch, located at 7898 Hague Road, has not been renovated since it opened in 1983. Now, the $1.5 million project has brought the old building “into this century,” says Marianne Kruppa, interim branch manager.
The new features include an updated entrance and improved technology — but, according to Kruppa, the first thing you’ll notice is the lighting.
“We notched out the eastern and western most points on the building and put in windows. We also added in some lighting in the ceiling,” Kruppa said. “Overall, it’s a much brighter building.”
The renovations also include new public restrooms, additional charging stations and engaging new spaces for patrons of all ages.
“There is a soft seating area for the little kids, but there’s also big kid furniture, for lack of a better term,” Kruppa said. “So it’s more of a family space as opposed to a children’s space.”
New group study and tutoring rooms were also part of the project. However, these rooms will not be immediately available due to the pandemic, which delayed the project considerably.
“We were supposed to be open originally in April or May, so we are very happy to be open today,” Kruppa said. “Unfortunately things kept getting pushed back for one reason or another, and COVID-19 was part of that.”
If you’re planning to visit, there are a few restrictions to keep in mind. Kruppa says you need to wear a mask while in the building, and try to keep your visits to under an hour. In addition, the public computers will only be available for one-hour sessions, and the seating capacity is halved.
Kruppa hopes that, now that the renovations are complete, the library will become an educational, modern “home away from home.”
