Normal Public Library opens alternate locations during asbestos abatement
Written by WZND Newsroom on March 29, 2024
Image Courtesy of the Normal Public Library
NORMAL, Ill. – The Normal Public Library will have to close its 206 W. College Avenue address and move library services to an alternate location starting tomorrow at 5 p.m. for asbestos abatement and renovations.
However, a new temporary location is 201 W. College Avenue, formerly the Busey Bank.
The library will officially close on March 30th, and the alternate location will open to the public on April 1st.
The Director of the Normal Public Library John Fischer describes the alternate location as “quite different” from its original building.
He said, “the area lacks seating for study groups, which is a reason why tutoring will not be available,” he said. “It’s also a small portion of the collection, which is a lot different.”
The Normal Public Library discovered the asbestos in 2020 after beginning restroom updates.
“In 2020, the library received a grant from the state of Illinois to update our restrooms on the first floors,” he said.
To create more accessibility, the library added three all-gender restrooms throughout the first floor and an accessible staff restroom.
“On the East side of the building, it was identified that the fireproofing that was sprayed in the 1970s building had asbestos-containing materials,” says Fischer.
At the time, the library did a minimal abatement to complete the project and maintain the budget.
“We’ve had air quality monitoring done several times since the project to ensure that the public and staff are safe,” Fischer said.
However, the Normal Public Library had to address the problem to complete further renovations.
“We’re unable to offer high-quality Wi-Fi and up to date network capabilities to the public,” he said. “All that infrastructure is built into the ceilings, and that’s where our problem is.”
Renovations to the public library are expected to begin on April 8, and the project should last between 10 to 12 months.
“We want to abate and clean up the building to make it nice, healthy and safe,” said Fischer. “Then we can move forward with our renovations.”
