VIRGINIA BEACH – Renovations are coming to Princess Anne Area Library on Nimmo Parkway near Strawbridge, and the library will remain closed for about six months after it shuts down for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 21, to make improvements to its spaces for children and teens, among other things.
Library personnel will offer some services from the nearby Princess Anne Recreation center once work commences, but that is limited to picking up books patrons request to have held for them or registering for a library card. The “express library” at the rec center is scheduled to open on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
The renovations are part of a $5.8 million capital improvement program to spruce up eight of 10 library branches. Renovations are beginning at the Bayside and Kempsville branches and are scheduled to begin at the Central location later this month. And renovations are scheduled for later in 2019 at the Great Neck, Oceanfront, Pungo-Blackwater and Windsor Woods branches, according to a statement released by the library system.
Ashley Barrineau, branch manager for the Princess Anne Area Library, said improvements will range from replacing carpeting, new furniture and better spaces for youth and teens.
“We’re moving our study rooms to the front of the library and the children’s area is going to expand into where the study rooms used to be,” she said. “This will make a big children and youth space that people will really enjoy.”
There will be a wall around the children’s area to cut down on noise, as well as new displays.
“And of course there will be lots of fresh books waiting for them,” Barrineau added.
The alternate location at the recreation center will not have a collection to browse or a way to make returns due to space limitations. Customers who want to browse can visit the Joint-Use Library or the Oceanfront Area Library locations, which are relatively near the Princess Anne Area Library. Walk-up returns will be available at Joint-Use Library. Drive-up returns are at the Oceanfront location.
Some storytime events may be held at the temporary location in the recreation center, and those interested should follow vbgov.com/library-events for information.
Activities for children normally held at the library during the annual Winter Wildlife Festival will relocate to the Princess Anne Recreation Center next door for the event in January.
Additionally, Barrineau noted that patrons should not call the recreation center number to reach the library personnel who will operate there during the upcoming work. The Princess Anne Area Library number, (757) 385-2610, will remain operational.
Christine Brantley, the marketing and communications manager for the libraries, said changes at the libraries include fixing normal wear and tear and accommodating the changing ways people use the libraries.
The Kempsville Area Library closed on Monday, Dec. 31, for about six months. An “express library” is operatin from the Virginia Beach Treasurer’s Office at Fairfield Shopping Center with limited services.
Renovations for the Bayside branch were scheduled to start this month, but it will remain open while spaces are added, including spaces for assisting patrons with disabilities, according to a statement from the library system.
Visit vbgov.com/library for more information.
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I want the library back right now