Allen’s Library Undergoing Major Renovations: Temporary Closure Notice

Allen’s Library Undergoing Major Renovations Temporary Closure Notice
Image By: CBS News

The lone library in the City of Allen is closing, albeit temporarily, just in time for back to school. It’s relocating to a new temporary location for the upcoming year in order to make room for significant upgrades.

Being one of the few communities in North Texas with just one public library, the city is now preparing to expand and renovate the library in response to pressure from an increasing population in recent years.

The Walwyn family, numbering four generations, said they have been using the city’s main library for decades and are pleased to see it thrive.

“We go to all the libraries and all the different counties, but this one just has a wide array of things to do and entertain and stay connected,” Azalia Walwyn stated.

Her grandson and daughter, Iriyel, now frequent the library and take use of everything it has to offer.

“Especially for kids, you don’t want to put them in front of his screen all the time, and the library is a perfect place to do that,” Iriyel Walwyn stated.

Nearly 8 million people have visited the Allen Library in the past 20 years, and as Collin County’s population grows, so will this trend. Since the construction of this library, Allen alone has grown by almost double, so in a year the entire building will undergo a significant makeover to better serve its new patrons.

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“Allen was 15,000 people and now we’re almost at 120,000 people so we’ve kind of run out of space,” Claudia Wayland, Allen Library’s assistant director stated. “Libraries are now community centers. They’re now a living room, where people come to be in person to hang out, connecting with your neighbors.”

The city is expanding the library by 19,000 square feet. A new children’s program room, a drive-up book return facility, and additional sitting and program space are all part of the project, which was approved by voters in a 2016 bond.

Thursday, August 1st, marked the closure of the current library. Staff and services will be available at 800 E. Main Street beginning in September.

Reference

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