Upgrades slated for many libraries

By Ashley Livingston

Friday, Oct. 3, 2008 | midnight

A number of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District's facilities are receiving facelifts this fall.

Remodeling has started or will start soon at the Enterprise, Rainbow, Sahara West and Las Vegas libraries.

Each branch will undergo renovations to its circulation areas and back sorting room.

"Our overall plan is to get patrons in and out of the library quicker and also to get materials back on the shelf faster," said Robb Morss, the Library District's deputy director.

Morss said the libraries will be outfitted with more self-check kiosks and technology that will sort returned materials, allowing for a quicker and easier return to the shelves for books, CDs and DVDs.

The new equipment will also automatically sort books that have been put on hold for patrons, he said.

The upgrades will range in price depending on the scope of remodeling needed to allow for enough space to house the new sorting equipment.

The Enterprise Library is on the low end at $147,000, while the Rainbow Library will cost about $315,000, Morss said.

In a statement on its Web site, the Library District said there may be increased noise levels, decreased seating and reduced access to computers and Wi-Fi during the remodeling.

However, library officials expect the impact to patrons to be minimal and closures are not expected.

"Unless we run into an emergency, we plan to stay open the seven days a week we normally do," Morss said.

Construction is expected to be complete by December.

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or ashley.livingston@hbcpub.com.