The long proposed renovation of the West Regional Library in Luling should get underway in early 2016.
The $2.5 million overhaul has been delayed since 2013, but library director Leann Benedict said the project should be going out for bid very soon, with an eye toward getting the project started early next year.
Benedict says the renovation will include a number of improvements, including an increase of the number of public computers as well as the addition of a computer lab, more study rooms and a larger meeting room, which is available at no cost to the local community.
“We will also be making general improvements to the building such as better lighting, better accessibility, and adding an entrance to the Planetarium from inside the library,” Benedict said.
The renovation, she says, will take an estimated eight months, and the library will have to remain closed for that duration.
She said library officials are currently investigating options for a temporary location that will, at a minimum, provide patrons with a place to pick up and drop off materials, a photocopier and some public computers.
Benedict said not long after becoming the library director in December of 2013, the library board determined that, in addition to renovating the West Regional Library, there was a strong need and demand for a better branch in Norco.
“The existing Norco branch is the only building that we currently lease and it is also the smallest of our branches,” she said. “Had we moved forward with the original West renovation plans, we would not have had funds available to address the needs of the communities served by the Norco branch. During this time, we also became aware that there were some properties available for sale in Norco that had potential to become the new Norco branch.
“The library has looked at properties in Norco in the past but had never been able to find one that was suitable.”With potential property available in Norco, Benedict said the library decided that the best option was to scale back the West Regional renovation project so that there would also be funds available to purchase and renovate property in Norco.
“In doing so, we will be able to improve library facilities and services at two locations rather than just one,” she said.
The first delay, in the summer of 2013, came because an exhibit at the East Regional Library in Destrehan, called Discover Earth, forced the start date to be pushed back. Then, officials decided to revise the design, which pushed the construction date back by a few more months.
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