Oak View update to bring face-lift, interior changes to east-side library

Oak View Branch is only 20 years old in people years, but in building years, it’s time for a face-lift.

Not only will the entrance look different when the work is done but also library users will benefit from several interior changes.

Bids are expected in late July; when those have been received, the scope of the project and timeline will be finalized, branch librarian Amy Larsen said.

If bids are favorable, the following changes could take place, according to Architecture Incorporated, which redesigned the building:

• Adding a mother’s room and a separate family restroom. The latter will have an adult changing station to address accessibility/inclusivity concerns.
• Enclosing the staff workroom for privacy and noise control. An automatic material handling unit will assist with the sorting of returned books. Currently, the machine has its own space separate from the employees’ desks and workspace. This will help with the flow and function of the book return and reshelving process.

• Changing the circulation desk for better traffic flow and sight lines through the library.
• Converting the existing study room into four study rooms.
• Reconfiguring the quiet room.

• Adding Siouxland Libraries branding colors through the study spaces.
• Expanding and enclosing the courtyard, making the space more appealing and usable. The public can use this space while visiting the library, and children’s programs can take place outdoors as well.

That last item has people “very, very excited,” Larsen said. It will mean library patrons can come and go more freely without staff worrying that items inadvertently may leave with them.

“Out in back of the library, we currently have a patio area with a picnic table and a couple of benches,” she said. “But those are emergency doors, and when you come in from the outside, an alarm goes off. We hope to create an outdoor space where we no longer have to have alarm doors. You can sit and study, or we can use the space for story time and programs. There will be turf to sit on and an ornamental fence so it looks really nice.”

Oak View Branch marked its 20th year on May 19. The refresh will include replacing concrete in front and redoing landscaping to simplify it with a fresh look. The concrete will be heated, making it safer for pedestrians to enter and leave the library during the winter months, Larsen said.

Oak View Neighborhood association is working on obtaining funding to secure a statue to be placed in front of the library. The downtown branch and Caille Library have similar art in front, and they are used as photo opportunities, Larsen said.

The current study room is popular with teenagers; expanding the number of rooms to four will allow more usage.

While the public rarely enters the staff area, the changes there will affect patrons by making the larger library quieter.

“They won’t hear the machines running in the back, and it will be a nicer and more calm experience for customers,” Larsen said.

An upgrade to the automated materials handling machine means books returned by library users will be directed to the correct individual bins, similar to the setup for other branches. That also will save staff time in the sorting process. Children who come to Oak View for tours enjoy watching the books proceed on the conveyor belt, Larsen said.

Plans now are to start construction in early September with completion by mid-December. Oak View will be closed for a few months, beginning in late August. Specific dates will be known when the contracts have been awarded. Patrons who regularly use Oak View will be able to pick up books on hold and return them at the branch of their choice and also use those meeting rooms, Larsen said. The Ronning Branch on 49th Street east of Southeastern Avenue and the main library downtown are the closest locations.

Oak View staff members have been cleaning out cabinets and drawers to prepare for the move. They, too, will be assigned to other branches while the work takes place.

“There will be new faces in a few places while the library is getting ready for reopening,” Larsen said.

Except for carpet replacement and roof repairs, this is the first real renovation at Oak View, she said. The library abuts a park, and the changes in the courtyard were suggested by recently retired library director Jodi Fick.

“It has been something she has wanted to do for quite a while,” Larsen said. “Oak View is so full of wildlife and trees, and you should appreciate the location when you’re at the library.”