Tempe, Arizona – Beginning Saturday, May 8, the Tempe Public Library, 3500 S. Rural Road, will temporarily relocate its main front entrance because of ongoing renovations.

Library patrons will be directed by signs to a temporary entrance on the building’s north side, which opens out to a courtyard area facing the Tempe History Museum. The main entrance is expected to be closed through Memorial Day, May 31.

During business hours, patrons can still use the main entrance to access second-floor areas like Social Services, Parks & Recreation, and an early voting site. They can go through the main entrance’s outer doors and use the elevator or stairs to go to the second floor. Anyone wanting to enter the library, however, will use the temporary north entrance.

The temporary relocation of the entrance, which will allow work to be done on lobby flooring, is anticipated to be the last major element in the overhaul of the 20-year-old building. The library has remained open during the renovation, which is expected to be completed in July.

Tempe voters authorized the sale of bonds for the $8 million renovation during the city’s May 2006 General Election. Tempe’s Capital Improvement Program budget is separate from the city’s operating budget. Most of the renovations already are complete, including an expanded Youth Library, a cool new Teen Center, an improved Computer Commons, new study areas and more.

Follow the progress of the project via a special renovation Web page available at www.tempe.gov/library.

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