More than 1,000 people visited the newly renovated Spring Hill Library on its opening day, June 3. The library, which closed last August for renovations, now features a 1,000-square-foot children’s wing, a fresh exterior, and several floor-to-ceiling windows.

According to Terry Pulliam, Johnson County Library assistant communications manager, the renovations were a long time coming, with the library not having been updated since it opened in 1982. The new children’s space is a major highlight of the renovation, with front-facing books and ample seating.

Renovations and Improvements

The Spring Hill branch wasn’t the only Johnson County Library branch to see improvements. The De Soto branch, which reopened in April, also received updates, including exterior updates, additional seating, new furniture, larger windows, a new study room, and a new conference room.

The renovations were made possible by the library system’s reserves through its current five-year Capital Improvement Plan, with a combined cost of about $6.3 million. The new space in Spring Hill also features extended hours, allowing patrons to access the collection, check out materials, pick up holds, and use computers and printers, even when staff is not on site.

Rachel Tanney, a gifted program educator for Olathe Public Schools, expressed her excitement about the new library, particularly the extended hours and additional meeting space. “I’m really excited about the extended hours,” she said. “This is where I always pick up my holds from, but sometimes the hours were difficult. I’m also a teacher, so I check out a lot of books… I have missed having such a convenient place to pick up holds.”

Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.