OKLAHOMA CITY– Plans for the renovation of the Belle Isle Library will soon be underway after the City of Oklahoma City Council recently awarded the design of the project to ADG, a local architecture firm.

The renovation will include major changes to the existing floorplan and an expansion that will add about 14,000 square foot to the library. In addition, the library will add new furniture, fixtures and equipment.

“We are excited to get started on the Belle Isle Library renovation project,” Deputy Executive Director of Operations Anthony Herron said. “The Belle Isle Library is beloved by many Oklahoma City residents, and we are happy to have the opportunity to improve their experience by creating a larger more tech-friendly space.”

The Metropolitan Library System and the City will begin working with ADG and Aaron Cohen Associates, an internationally known library design consultant, to develop an addition that will complement the existing structure. It is estimated that the design phase will take 12 months to complete.

The library will move to a temporary location during the renovation. At this time, a space has not yet been secured. Construction is estimated to take 12 to 18 months to complete.

The Belle Isle Library was built in 1965 and last underwent an expansion in 1988 to add 6,600 square feet. The nearly $8.3 million in project funds provided by the City of Oklahoma City are from the 2007 and 2017 General Obligation Bonds. Funds provided by the Metropolitan Library System will be allocated at the Feb. 21 meeting of the Metropolitan Library System Commission at Ralph Ellison Library.

In fiscal year 2018, the Belle Isle Library had more than 224,000 visits. The library also had a 5 percent uptake in new library account holders and almost a 10 percent increase in materials borrowed since 2017. Overall, the library serves about 35,000 active customers.

More details will be announced as the planning process for the design begins. Library users can visit the library website www.metrolibrary.org or follow the library on Facebook @metrolibrary to stay up to date on the latest library news and announcements.