Mid-Continent Public Library is pleased to announce the launch of Phase II of its five-year Capital Improvement Plan, which calls for upgrades at all 31 MCPL branches and the addition of two new branches by 2022.
The plan, made possible by increased funding from the passage of Proposition L by Library district voters in November 2016, has impacted seven branches to date—five of which (Antioch, Blue Springs South, Excelsior Springs, Oak Grove, and Weston) have temporarily closed for construction upgrades. Due to issues uncovered during the construction process, the reopening of the Weston Branch has been delayed until late September. The Platte City Branch will close immediately upon the reopening of the Weston Branch. The Midwest Genealogy Center remains open while construction of a 400-seat Community Hall progresses.
“We’re very excited about the progress we’ve made so far in fulfilling our promises to the voters, and we look forward to kicking off this new round of upgrades, which will offer our customers the modern library experience they need and deserve,” said Steven V. Potter, MCPL Director and CEO.
Rounding out Phase I is MCPL’s recent acquisition of a property in Lee’s Summit, Mo., at Blue Parkway and Battery Road just east of Todd George Road (just north of 50 Highway) where the Library intends to erect a brand new 18,500-square-foot branch with a wide array of amenities and upgraded technology. Pending city approval, the design of the new facility will include:
• A community programming room for classes and forums
• Enclosed meeting/study rooms
• A teen area
• A children’s area, which will be called the “Richard and Deborah Link Learning Center” (dedicated to the prior owners who generously donated a portion of the property)
MCPL currently has two other branches in Lee’s Summit—off Oldham Parkway and Colbern Road—and collectively the two circulated more than one million items during the last fiscal year (putting them at #1 and #3 in terms of circulation out of MCPL’s 31 branches). Additionally, they had more than 330,000 visitors in their buildings last year. The new Lee’s Summit branch will help the Library better meet the needs of this growing community.
The final step of Phase I will be to replace the current Liberty Branch with a new building. More details about this project will be announced later.
