Two Johnson County libraries will be closed this fall for their first major renovations in 40 years.
The temporary closures of the branches in Spring Hill and DeSoto were approved by the Johnson County Library Board at its August 14 meeting.
That sets in motion construction work that caps off four years of discussion and public feedback over changes at the two branches.
The refurbished branches are tentatively expected to reopen next spring.
The Spring Hill branch, 109 S Webster Street, officially closed on Thursday, August 21, a week after the board’s vote. The De Soto branch, 33145 W 83rd Street, is set to close on Saturday, Sept. 6.
The total cost for both library renovations is $6.3 million, funded by the library system’s reserves through its current five-year Capital Improvement Plan.
Both branches’ current buildings opened in 1982 and have received only minor cosmetic upgrades in the last four decades.
Spring Hill work will expand children’s area
At the heart of the changes at Spring Hill is a 1,00-square-foot expansion that will house the branch’s children’s collection, as well as an early literacy space.
Large floor-to-ceiling windows will overlook a new patio off the relocated front entrance in Spring Hill, as well.
The library’s current footprint will also house updated adult and nonfiction collections, public computers, as well as copy and printing stations. A new meeting room and study room will also be added.
Johnson County Library will also run a pilot program at the renovated Spring Hill branch that will give patrons secure access outside of operating hours to pick up holds, browse the collections and use computers and printers.
“The patrons also wanted Spring Hill to be open longer, which personally I love to hear,” County Librarian Tricia Sullentrope said last month. “You are not going to get an argument out of me for more library hours.”
Details about how that expanded access pilot program will work have not yet been announced.
Revamped exterior and interior in De Soto
In De Soto, the branch will receive a refreshed façade and new, back-lit signage, an outdoor patio on the front of the building with sidewalk improvements including landscaping and seating “to add to the downtown feel.”
The work will also move the children’s space to the front of the building with a mural and access to natural light and large windows.
The interior will also be rehabbed with new furniture and finishes intended to create more space. Per resident feedback, there will also be a new study room and conference room added to the De Soto branch.
Sullentrope said last month she believes the city of De Soto shares the library’s mission for access to information, ideas, materials and experiences.
How it will impact patrons
The renovations in De Soto and Spring Hill are part of Johnson County Library’s regular program to systematically modernize and upgrade its existing buildings.
Patrons of those branches will have to access other locations because there will be no services at either branch during the constructions, including returns, pickups, holds, public computers, printing and copying.
Officials said all pending holds at the Spring Hill branch are paused until the building reopens. Patrons can leave their current holds paused or log in to their account through the Johnson County Library website or app and select a new pickup location for their holds.
Holds at the De Soto branch will be available for pick up until it officially closes at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Holds not picked up by then will expire.
Patrons can leave their current holds at either branch paused for the duration of the renovations or log in to their account through the Johnson County Library website or app and select a new pickup location for their holds.
Johnson County shares an online catalog and materials with the city of Olathe’s separate library system, and a Johnson County Library patron’s library card will work at branches in both systems.
Elissa Andre, a spokesperson for Johnson County Library, said employees at the Spring Hill and DeSoto branches will continue serving their communities.
“Current library employees already rotate between locations based on a regional model,” Andre said.
Andre said the majority of the feedback from patrons on the renovations had been excitement.
“The only questions have been about WiFi access, water access and where to go for a cooling center,” Andre said. “People wish we would open a satellite location, but the cost and logistics are more than the project could bear.”
