Architects will be drawing up a plan over the coming months for expanding the Rhinelander District Library.
The Board of Trustees has selected HBM Architects for the redesign. Board President Janet Baer says the board chose the Cleveland-based firm in part because of its experience redoing Carnegie libraries.
“This is a historical landmark in this city, really. And we want to make the Carnegie part of the library even more welcoming to the public. We are hoping to move offices out of the Carnegie section so that we can have maybe a reading room, or something of that sort.”
Baer says it’s been almost 30 years since the library’s had an update, and now there’s a much greater demand for community and programming space.
“In 1985 terms it was terrific. When you look at it today however, now it’s just kind of a box for books. And now we need to do something a little bit different with that box for books, and have more space for people, and more space for this to be a welcoming place.”
The new plan is likely to involve expanding and moving the children’s department out of the basement, and installing bathrooms on the main floor.