The wait is almost over!
On Sunday, June 7, 2015, the Rochester Hill Public Library will host the public at an Open House from 2-4 p.m. to unveil the new $1.6 million addition and newly redesigned drive-up return and pickup window. Light refreshments will be served.
Library Director, Christine Lind Hage (center) with some of the guests given a sneak peek of the new renovations
A special “sneak peak” was given to elected officials in the library’s service area. Rochester Hills May Bryan Barnett attended, as well as Rochester City Manager James Vettraino. Newly appointed Oakland Township Manager Warren Brown also attended the evening event.
At the Open House, the public will also be able to see the new automated materials handling system (AMS) in action. The AMS sorts and checks in library materials as they are returned. Also open for public viewing will be the second floor space which will be used for future book sales. “We will be on hand on June 7 to show off the book sale area and to explain all the ways that we sell used books,” said book sale chairperson Ann Grunewald.
The Rochester Hills Public Library broke ground in August of 2014 and completed construction of the addition and drive up window in May. The drive-up window will now allow patrons to drive up next to the building instead of making four 90-degree turns to access the book return. The additional space inside the first floor allowed the installation of the automated materials handling system. The second floor addition will be used for online and library books sales organized by the Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library beginning in September 2015.
The majority of this project is being funded out of the library’s fund balance. The Friends of the Library contributed about $74,000 to finish off the second floor space, which will be used for the book sales. Careful consideration by the library board in regard to the cost of the construction project resulted in the reuse of existing library materials. Window, window sills, wood doors and interior glass from the original building were used saving thousands of dollars. Temporary walls and extra building materials were salvaged and donated to Habitat for Humanity. Seventy-five percent of the book sale shelving was donated to the library by other libraries. No new furniture was purchased for the new addition and existing workstations were reconfigured to work in the new areas.
Library improvements scheduled for completion this summer include the construction of four group study rooms on the second floor and paving of the parking lot. In addition, LED lights will be installed in the existing light posts in the south parking lot.
The Rochester Hills Public Library is located in downtown Rochester off of University Drive and three blocks east of Main Street. The Library is open from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday, June 7 will be the last day of Sunday service until the fall. The Library’s website (www.RHPL.org) has information on how to register for a card and access all the Library’s services.
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