Facelift coming for Lexington library this spring

Courtney McNaull
Reporter
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LEXINGTON - After more than two decades without any significant cosmetic changes, the Lexington branch of Mansfield/Richland County Public Library is getting a facelift.

By the time the busy summer season hits, branch manager Danica Perry said, the branch will have undergone a complete remodel, featuring fresh carpet and paint, new shelves and furniture and an updated layout.

The $220,000 project will be paid for through the library's capital fund and is expected to be completed in April or May.

"I think the community is really going to like the remodel," Perry said. "This is a busy branch, and I'm excited to show it off once it's all complete."

A section of the Lexington branch of the Richland County Library system.

On average, 300 people visit the Lexington branch every day, and the Lexington branch circulated more than 160,000 items in 2015.

Regular visitors have become accustomed to the branch's nautical theme, and Perry said several elements of the theme will stay, like the branch's large, hand-carved ship display in the adult space and the lighthouse pillar in the children's area. Perry said the ship was purchased for $400 in the early 1990s, the last time the building was remodeled.

Library patrons will enjoy new Windsor-style furniture in the adult section and colorful updates in the children's area, Perry said. The branch's existing furniture will be spread throughout the library's other locations.

New shelving will be interchangeable so library staff can make modifications to the space as needed. Computer stations and library materials will be rearranged to be more user-friendly, Perry said.

The Lexington branch of the Richland County Library system.

The redesign will create more space for fiction materials and DVDs and will add a new teen reading area, where Perry said she hopes young people will feel drawn to spend time.

Instead of tucked away on a shelf against a wall, teen books will be displayed in a more open an inviting environment. The teen area, which will be situated in a nook to the right of the main entrance, will be outfitted with new modern-style furniture, Perry said.

The library will be closed temporarily for an estimated one to two weeks in April or May for the remodel, Perry said.

One the remodel is complete, Perry plans to host an open house for the community.

ceday@gannett.com

419-521-7220

Twitter: @courtneydaynj

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