Indianapolis Public Library’s (IndyPL) new Brightwood Branch will be bigger and better.
The remodeled branch, which will be across the street from the current location, will offer modernized spaces for an expanded collection, activities for children and teens, job search assistance, more computers and a community meeting space.
The $5.9 million project, scheduled to begin construction in the fall, is expected to open in the fall of 2019. The library renovation is funded directly through government bonds set aside for the project and will not increase taxes.
On May 24, the Indianapolis Public Library (IndyPL) unveiled plans for the Brightwood branch.
Michael Coghlan, libraries facility manager, is excited for what the new Brightwood branch will offer its patrons with better amenities such as a larger, easily accessible branch.
“The board decided that it wanted to have a new location to start fresh for the Brightwood branch,” says Coghlan. “It was more cost effective to build a new facility than to renovate the current one and that was the reason for the move across the street.”
He also emphasized that everyone involved wanted the library to be in a familiar area so the current library goers wouldn’t have to change their routine too much.
“The location of the library was important because of the 100-plus year history of the library,” said Coghlan. “The new branch will be on a corner with a stop light and will be visible to everyone that comes by.”
The Brightwood Branch has served the community for over a century and was the sixth public library to open in Indianapolis. The first branch was located at 2435 N. Station St., which is just one street west of the current location. The library moved to several other locations along Station Street before relocating to current address, 2435 N. Sherman Drive, in 1972.
Originally, IndyPL faced opposition with a longstanding church that was not willing to move. The library and the church reached a resolution that prevented the government body from using eminent domain on the property.
Once the land dispute was resolved between the owners of the church, plans for the new branch began to take form with the Brightwood Community Development Corporation taking point on the project.
Josephine Roger-Smith, executive director of the development corporation, was excited to begin the process with the library immediately.
“The Brightwood Library has been a key institution in the Martindale-Brightwood community since 1901,” said Smith. “The new library will inspire hope and a way to showcase economic prosperity for the community.”
With the current plan for the Brightwood Branch to be done in late 2019, Indianapolis Public Library will continue to renovate locations in the near future. The Library’s plan will have all branches completed by 2022. Four branches have been completed so far: Warren, Southport, Lawrence and East Washington.
Contact staff writer Dontre Graves at 317-762-7848. Follow him on Twitter @DontreGraves.
Rev. Tyrone Moore, Mount Carmel MBC and former resident of the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, looks over the latest proposed designs. (Photo/Learmon Blaylock)
