Austin Public Library’s Milwood Branch on Amherst Drive will reopen, fully renovated, on June 4 with new furniture, new finishes and new technology. John Gillum, library facilities process manager, said a celebration of the reopening will take place from 10 a.m.-noon at 12500 Amherst Drive and include speakers, refreshments and a children’s program. “We went in there and made it like a new library,” Gillum said. Library officials brought the building up to the latest Americans with Disabilities Act standards, which required enlarging the restrooms, lowering counter heights and altering the slope of sidewalks, he said. After the required changes were made, officials moved on to aesthetic improvements, he said. “It has been used heavily by that community from the very second we threw the doors open,” Gillum said. “But use equals wear, and it had become really worn out.” Rubber flooring was installed in some areas, rather than carpet, which muffles sound but wears quickly, Gillum said. The layout of the children’s area was changed to better muffle sound so the noises do not disturb or distract adult customers, he said. A new intelligent book return system immediately checks in returned media so members are never mistakenly charged late fees, Gillum said. The library also has self-checkout kiosks, where members can quickly and easily check out stacks of media and know when the items are due back to the library, he said. Self-checkouts also free librarians to help members navigate and find information, he said. “We’ve really poured our heart and soul into making this the best library in the system,” Gillum said. A 40-foot-long bookmobile, which has been at the site for two months providing interim library services, will remain on site for the June 4 reopening and celebration, he said. Afterward, it will likely travel to one of the other seven Austin Public Library branches undergoing renovations, such as the Oak Hill or Southeast branch. “We’re looking forward to taking it to its next mission,” Gillum said.