Under Renovation

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To continue providing residents with the best possible services and accommodate how libraries are used today, we are updating eight of our 10 buildings – all except the Wahab Public Law Library (updated in 2018) and the TCC/City Joint-Use Library (built in 2013). Renovations are underway at Bayside, Kempsville, Princess Anne and Central Library. Because of the nature of the renovations at Kempsville and Princess Anne, the buildings are closed during the construction and are expected to reopen this summer. Bayside and Central libraries remain open. ​Here are some renovation highlights as of May 2019; for more on library renovations and where to receive services while Kempsville and Princess Anne are closed, visit the tabs below.

Bayside & Special Services LIbrary
The children's area has been reconfigured with a new, enclosed storytime room that is nearly double the size of the original storytime room. A new reception area in Special Services provides a more comfortable area to review reading preferences with customers.
Central Library
The new children's area, which will be located on the first floor rather than the second floor, is getting walls and plumbing for new children's bathrooms. Carpet and cabinets are in the process of being replaced in the meeting space and kitchen.
Kempsville Area Library
The children's area has been enclosed to help control sound in the building. Public restrooms have been updated. There's a new, more spacious service desk with extra self-check out stations for customer convenience, and an increase from two to three study rooms.
Princess Anne Area Library
Study rooms have been rebuilt at the front of the building to improve sound. New children's and teen areas have been expanded and the children's room is enclosed. New carpet will be going down soon.

 Central Library
​Construction began in early 2019. The library is open during renovations; however, please pardon the dust, noise and occasional limited access to particular areas of the library while under construction.

What's being done?

  • New, dedicated storytime room
  • New carpet throughout the building
  • Updating meeting rooms and kitchen area
  • Adding new railing in the Auditorium
  • New, enclosed youth area on the first floor, new bathrooms
  • Enclosing teen area and adding new shelving
  • Moving computers to second floor
  • Moving reference materials to second floor
  • New tables, chairs and shelving in public areas 

Architect: Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects

Contractor: Homeland Contracting Company 

 Princess Anne
​Princess Anne Area Library is closed for renovations. Limited services, including hold pick-up, are available at the "Princess Anne Express Library" at Princess Anne Recreation Center next door to the library. Item returns are now being accepted at the Express location. See more details below.

What's being done?

  • Children's area is being enclosed
  • Study rooms are being relocated to the front of the library
  • Expanding youth area
  • New carpet​​

Architect: Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects

Contractor: L4 Enterprises

Alternative Service - Princess Anne Express Library

Location: Princess Anne Recreation Center

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday & Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., no Sundays 

Contact: (757) 385 - 2610 

Services: holds pickups, library card registrations and phone assistance. The Princess Anne Express Library is not able to accept material returns or offer Inter Library Loan, public internet or copier services. Please return library materials to any library location except for Kempsville Area Library, which is also closed for renovation. 

Programming: VBPL will offer limited library programming at the Princess Anne Recreation Center. Visit www.VBgov.com/library-events to find dates, times and locations. 

 Kempsville
Kempsville Area Library is reopening Wednesday, June 26 at 10 a.m. following six months of renovations.​

What's being done?

  • New public service desk featuring 3 full-service stations at the entrance of the building.
  • New public and staff restrooms.
  • New seating in the public areas.
  • New end panels on all shelving.
  • Enclosed children's room that contains the picture and beginner book collection; a staff-assisted service desk; educational, activity and technology focused workstations and child-sized tables and chairs. 
  • An increase from two public study rooms to one medium sized and two small study rooms.
  • New staff workroom with collaborative workspaces and updated workstations.

Architect: Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects

Contractor: Tidewater Development Services Corp.

Last renovation: 2009

 Bayside & Special Services
The library is open during renovations; however, please pardon the dust, noise and occasional limited access to particular areas of the library while under construction.

What's being done?

  • New, dedicated storytime room
  • Dedicated space to assist Special Services customers with talking book machines and assistive devices. 
  • Improved lighting

Architect: Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects

Contractor: L4 Enterprises

Last construction date: Current building was constructed in 2005, though a Bayside branch has existed for more than 50 years. 

 Overview
​​The renovations are funded by a $5.8 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP) awarded in 2016 to renovate eight of 10 VBPL branches, all except for the TCC/City Joint-Use Library, which opened in 2013, and the Wahab Public Law Library, where renovations were completed in January 2018. The remaining four libraries, Great Neck, Oceanfront, Pungo-Blackwater and Windsor Woods, are expected to begin renovations in 2019.

During the Kempsville and Princess Anne closures, customers are encouraged to visit other VBPL branches for full library service. Customers may also visit VBPL's digital library for around the clock access to e-books, music downloads and more at the Digital Library.

Contact Information