The newly built Michigan Road Branch will have its grand opening celebration 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 15.
To mark the special occasion, Indianapolis Public Library will feature several activities including guided tours, face painting and a ribbon cutting.
The new branch, located at 6201 Michigan Road, will provide library service to a large portion of the near-northwest side of the city that previously didn’t have a library branch. The 20,000-square foot building will have new spaces for children, teens and adults as well as a computer and technology area, group study and tutoring rooms and a large community room. The library collection will feature 60,000 books and other materials.
The new branch features vertical blinds that use technology to get the most from natural light in the building. Indy Urban Hardwood designed and constructed 16 tables from trees harvested from the 4.5-acre site.
The Indianapolis City-County Council approved bonds to fund the $7.4 million branch. The cost won’t affect the library’s debt service rate. The new Michigan Road branch is part of the library’s long-term plan to update or add new libraries by 2022. Renovated branches include Warren, Southport and East Washington. Lawrence and Wayne township branches are slated for renovation. The Eagle, Brightwood and Glendale branches will be replaced, and new branches are planned for Perry Township and Fort Benjamin Harrison.
