The renovated Richardson Public Library is expected to open this fall and will include expanded children's and teen areas and new programming areas.
The temporary library location, which has been open since renovations began in 2023, is set to close in October ahead of the library’s move back to the newly renovated building.
The overview
According to city announcements, primary changes at the renovated library building include enhanced natural light, a new glass-enclosed staircase and a relocated main entrance on the southeast corner, which will also include a drop-off lane.
Other new library areas include a large event space, a test kitchen and a makerspace, which will be used for adult, teen and children’s programs.
The library is also significantly expanding its youth services area, adding new spaces and activities on the first and second levels of the renovated building in designated areas for young children, older children and teens.
“Youth services is growing up, literally,” said youth services supervisor Shay Brooks at an August meeting of the city’s Public Library Board.
The details
Brooks said services for babies, toddlers and preschoolers will be housed on the main level of the library, similar to where the children’s area was previously located. Brooks called the area a “space for discovery” with new bins that have thousands of books for babies and toddlers.
“The search and find aspect of locating fantastic kids books will be just part of the adventure of the children’s space,” Brooks said.
In addition to reading, Brooks noted that families enjoy playing at the library and officials are working to make play meaningful and educational.
“Children are invited to touch, poke, prod, twist, drop and handle the play wall in the open area or they can try the quieter, cozy cave under the stairs,” Brooks said.
The children’s area will include a discovery activity table with blocks and a lightbox discovery table with translucent letters, numbers and other sensory materials.
A closer look
Services for children ages 6-12 are moving to the second level in their own designated area, Brooks said.
“We know children in first grade and above start gaining more and more independence by attending school,” Brooks said. “They also have the opportunity to branch out right here at RPL.”
This area will offer materials geared toward newly independent readers through tweens, including easy chapter books, more advanced fiction reads, graphic novels and nonfiction and biography collections.
The library’s laptop kiosk is also located nearby on level two, as well as a bean bag pit and a wall-size Scrabble board.
The renovated library will also feature a new teen space for kids aged 13-18 that will include two study rooms, TV monitors that allow laptop connections, whiteboards and a variety of seating options.
“[Teens] have a constructive place to meet up, hang out, accomplish tasks and do life away from home or school,” Brooks said.
The teen space will also allow room to expand the library’s young adult collections of fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels and manga.
What’s next
The library will close its temporary location Oct. 11 to allow time to move materials and equipment to the renovated building. Digital library resources will remain available after the temporary facility closes, but most in-person programs and services will be paused.
A grand opening for the new public library is expected this fall.
