The newly renovated Carondelet branch of the St. Louis Public Library will celebrate its grand reopening at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 16. The public, along with library officials, local and state dignitaries and Carondelet staff is invited to attend a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony and explore the building until 4 p.m.
The Saint Louis Public Library includes 17 different citywide locations, and the Carondelet branch, located on 6800 Michigan, is one of the last buildings to be restored. Kathy Leitle, associate deputy director, spoke about the 18-month, $3.3 million renovations. “The money came from the property tax,” she says. “We are a separate entity from the city so we have a dedicated tax just for libraries."
As for the renovations, “We totally did a gut rehab of the building,” Leitle says. “We now have an elevator, additional parking and a new entrance off that new parking lot.” She further explains that for the most part, everything is new. There are four new bathrooms, all ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, new computers, furniture, shelves and many new books.
With the majority of the building undergoing rehab, there are a few things that were kept the same or only underwent minor renovations. Leitle focuses on the crown molding and stained glass accents of the Carondelet building, which was built in 1908. “I believe that in the ‘50s or ‘60s, they had put a drop ceiling over a clear story with gorgeous windows and stained glass accents,” she says. “With the dropped ceiling, no one could see that. Well, we have taken that out and reopened it, so now people can see it when they walk in. It’s very beautiful.”
With the new renovations yet same historic feeling as the original building, Leitle refers to the branch as “historical, but updated for the 21st century."
On Monday, June 18, Carondelet will resume regular hours. The branch hours are Mondays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesdays throughThursdays: Noon-7 p.m.; and Fridays: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 314-752-9224 or visit slpl.org.
