Lawrenceburg Public Library Uses Grant To Repurpose Mezzanine Level

The grant money was used to create more spaces for small meetings, among other improvements.

Entrepreneurs who work from home, but need to meet a client. A student meeting with a tutor. A small group needing a meeting space. Someone from out-of-town passing through who needs a place to work from a laptop. Photo provided. 

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - In response to a need for more meeting space in the community, the Lawrenceburg Public Library District started looking at ways to provide an answer. The decision was made to pursue a grant to repurpose the mezzanine at the Lawrenceburg Main Library.

An $80,000 City of Lawrenceburg Community Grant was awarded to LPLD in late 2020 by the Dearborn Community Foundation. The LPLD board members approved the project during their January 2021 meeting.

“We are so very appreciative of the support from the Dearborn Community Foundation for our newly created third space in the mezzanine. This wouldn't have been possible without them,” said LPLD Board President Kim McGranahan.

“I also want to thank the City of Lawrenceburg for their support of the project,” said Georgeann Doan, acting director of LPLD.

The grant money was used to create more spaces for small meetings, shrink the size of the reference desk, update the furniture, install new carpet and create a glass wall conference room. An additional $3,900 was used from the LPLD Library Improvement Reserve Fund to complete the project.

“The mezzanine repurposing project is a result of community need for study, work and meeting space. We have tried to accommodate groups of various sizes and provide updated technology to meet virtual and collaborative needs. All pieces of the project have seen a lot of use since reopening the mezzanine, so that tells me we have been successful in that endeavor,” said Doan.

Work began in April 2021. LPLD facilities supervisor Richard Hill helped keep costs down by removing the prior reference desk.

APG Office Furnishings, Cincinnati, completed most of the Mezzanine in July 2021, including the installation of two meeting booths, two nooks, the glass wall meeting room and several other meeting/gathering areas.

“I’d also like to personally thank APG for their quality work,” said McGranahan.

The completion of the project was celebrated during an open house held Thursday, Sept. 23, at the Lawrenceburg Main Library.

Meanwhile, the open house also was a chance to show the public the renovated Ewbank Room. Most of the renovations were completed in the summer of 2020, but use of the room was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The room was built as part of an addition to the Lawrenceburg Main Library in 1988. LPLD library board members voted in January 2000 to name the room after 30-year library director Eleanor Ewbank.

Improvements to the space include an updated kitchenette, increased room capacity from 70 to 169 (if using only chairs), and a significant technology update. Wallpaper was removed and the walls painted to make the room more inviting. The floor covering was replaced, new tables and chairs purchased and an ADA bathroom was added.

The room continues to serve as a space for library programs and as an option for community members to reserve for meetings.

“We would also like to thank the Ewbank Family for their ongoing support of our library. Without their continued support, the Ewbank room remodeling project could not have been completed. In addition, the director, managers, and staff have worked extremely hard to create a very welcoming environment that encourages the community to share our newly designed spaces,” said McGranahan, who also thanked the staff at APG, Century Construction and MKM architecture + design for their work on the Ewbank Room renovation.