Renovations of the East Wing of the Oak Ridge Public Library include a brand-new Children’s Room and bathrooms that meet Americans with Disability Act standards.
The library will celebrate with a June 20 grand reopening.
The projects were made possible through a combination of funding from the City of Oak Ridge, a Support Grant to Local Governments, and the Friends of Oak Ridge Public Library administering a bequest (a personal property gift) on behalf of Jerry Kinnamon.
Jefferson Middle School art students created a mural for the Children’s Room, a press release said. The Children’s Room was designed by Opening the Book, North America, a woman-owned business specializing in public library design and was installed by local contractor First Place Finish.
Barber McMurry Architects, headquartered in Knoxville, designed the bathroom renovations, which were realized by Wright Contracting, another local company.
The celebration will take place at Oak Ridge Public Library, located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike, on Tuesday, June 20, at 5 p.m. The first 150 children to enter the Children’s Room will receive a goodie bag, the press release said.
“The Children’s Room is our most heavily used service, and I’m thrilled to have it reopen. I hope that everyone will feel welcome and enjoy the new East Wing,†Library Director Julie Forkner said.
More renovations are planned for next year, and they will include new powered furniture for the main library as well as new study and computer carrels, the press release said. Plans for a permanent book sale space for the Friends of the Library and a Library Café are also being considered. The library staff encourages everyone to come celebrate the reopening of the East Wing. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, follow the library on social media or call them at (865) 425-3455.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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