<figure>
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 </figure><div><iframe title="Big changes on the way for the Hays Public Library" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/ntpcu-e531cc?from=pb6admin&amp;download=1&amp;version=1&amp;auto=1&amp;share=1&amp;download=1&amp;rtl=0&amp;fonts=Helvetica&amp;skin=3&amp;pfauth=&amp;btn-skin=101"></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays Post<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e95b2bdc-da0e-4a16-885b-c6fb1923c668">This month, work on a major remodel will begin at the Hays Public Library</a>, the first work on the building since a remodel in 2004.While the work is being completed, library patrons may be impacted, but staff is working to keep disruptions to a minimum."It will impact our services for quite a while, but once we get it completed, it's going to be pretty incredible and we are going to be a lot better off for it," said HPL director Brandon Hines."We will close some. We might have to adjust our hours," Hines said. "People might have to put up with a lot of noise."From Aug. 13 to 20, the facility is tentatively scheduled to be closed while many of&nbsp;the collections will be moved to allow work to begin, but services will still be available.And the new bookmobile will be made more available as the library is closed.&nbsp;"Even when we are closed, our bookmobile schedule is online and we are planning on increasing the number of stops that we are going to make," Hines said. "We know it is going to be a great way to extend our reach while the doors are closed and some of our services are limited by the remodel project."Online services will not be impacted."Over the last six months, we have really been promoting that and it has been a big part of our offerings," Hines said.While there will be disruptions, the end result will be a library better suited for patron use."We have a beautiful place and we really haven't had to touch much of our physical space since then," Hines said.&nbsp;But changing technology and services have quickly dated the facility."One example I like to share," Hines said. "When we opened up in 2004, I think we had 16 public internet computers on the adult level. We had 12 in the children's level and we had nine in the young adult level. So we had a ton of computers. In 2010, we had over 50,000 people use our public internet computers. About that time, smartphones became popular and, last year, we were down to about 30,000 computer users. We were down 40 percent over what we were 10 years ago. People don't need the physical PCs because they have their phones — their little computers — in their pockets."During the first six months of 2019, facility planning began, including community stakeholder meetings.&nbsp;"At the end of that six months, in the middle of last year, we transitioned into a build based on the information we gathered," Hines said.<a href="https://www.gouldevans.com/">The architects firm Gould Evans was chosen for the design work.</a>"They recently completed the Art and Design building on campus and they also have some good library experience," Hines said.The project went out to bid end of June and was recently accepted. Paul Wartenberger Construction submitted the lowest bid and won the contract."We are excited to work with them," Hines said. "We are really lucky to have such great local contractors and to receive multiple bids was a real gift for us."They also did the work during the 2004 HPL remodel.<figure>
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 </figure>On the main floor, the entranceway will be changed significantly."For better or worse we are not a quiet as other libraries," Hines said."We really want to take that desk and spread it and deploy staff members throughout the entire library," he said. "That way we can help people in the stacks and in other places."The large desks in the middle of the adult and youth departments will also be split up.Having staff be more visible to help guide patrons will also be a feature of the new setup.<figure>
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 </figure>The front entryway will remain an engaging space, but will become more of a community commons area, Hines said."This front area will be that community commons where people will come have a cup of coffee, it's going to be a bit more engaging and with that, we are going to have great lighting and great seating," he said.<figure>
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 </figure>Four large windows in the area will open the space and create an inviting ascetic for those in and out."Especially in the wintertime, when it gets dark at 4:30-5:00 p.m., driving by the library you will see those bright lights on it will be a place that is warm and inviting and busy and its a place that people are going to want to be," Hines said.&nbsp;Small meeting rooms and quiet areas will also be a feature of that space allowing for those that desire an area for uninterrupted work.<figure>
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 </figure>"The Schmidt Foundation is really what is making that possible," Hines said.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/bd4dffcb-cd5e-4fab-a809-416ae722eba7">The foundation committed $100,000 to that area.</a><figure>
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 </figure>Technology services will be consolidated into one area, with a staff member dedicated to the space."We are going to call that the Nex-Tech Business Center, Hines said.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9904caee-4154-4a05-b3da-554479047b25">They contributed $10,000</a>&nbsp;for space.On the children's level, the 1968 entryway window will be opened up creating new rooms and workspaces."We are going to create a family bathroom, that's updated," Hines said.A study area and nursing room will also be put in.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0220184e-758b-45e2-9a7d-09ac89b8ea2a">The Heartland Foundation awarded the library $5,000 for that portion of the project.&nbsp;</a><figure>
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 </figure>"One of the most exciting things of the whole project is our new early literacy area," Hines said. "It was an immediate priority that we knew we need."<a href="https://hayslibrary.org/remodel/">For more information about the project visit the HPL website.</a>

🎙Big changes on the way for the Hays Public Library