East Washington Library Plans Make-over

INDIANAPOLIS -- The community is invited to weigh in on the first of a series of capital improvement projects planned for the Indianapolis Public Library system.  

Renovation of the 105-year-old East Washington Branch, one of the city’s only remaining Carnegie libraries, has been on the list for a long time. The most pressing issue is accessibility says Indianapolis Pubic Library CEO Jackie Nytes.

"We know we need an elevator because access is a very important aspect of all our work in our strategic plan, the building is also heavily used by the neighbors for computer access," said Nytes.

They’re also considering new public meeting rooms as part of the $2.4 million make-over that includes a 2,200 square foot expansion.  

The building sits at the corner of East Washington and Oxford, one of three intersections at the center of intensive neighborhood revitalization efforts.  

"Because this neighborhood is on the verge of all kinds of great things, the frustration is probably going to be that people want us to do even more than we can," explained Nytes.

Budgets will be tight for all 11 projects that are funded from $58 million in individual bond issues approved by the City County Council last year. The next branch in line for renvoation will be Southport, one of the busiest in the city.  The project is part of a long-range plan to improve and modernize sites over the next seven years. 

The first public meeting will be held at the E. Washington branch Thursday at 4:30 p.m.  Two more public meetings are planned in August and September.