Recently I had the pleasure of touring the newly renovated Carmel Main Library! After being closed for the past 2 years, 425 E Main St. is set to reopen in October 1st, 2022. Here are some things you’ll find in the reimagined space:
Main Floor:
The main floor houses majority of the foot traffic for the library. Here you’ll find:
The main lobby equipped with a picturesque staircase to the 2nd floor.
The newly added digital media lab with booths and equipment for podcasting, video, and 3D printing.
The cafe, now run by Java House.
Library bookstore
Children and Teen Department
Children’s Department:
Of course, this area gets it’s own section of this post! The Children’s Department truly was designed and thought through by people who have taken kids to the library before! Here are some things you will find:
An open concept space full of color and inviting to kids.
New activities for play like a life size Lite-Brite and Ranger Station
State of the art program rooms
A mom + baby room
Designated area for stroller parking
Bathrooms in the area
Colorful book displays at appropriate height for small kids
Reservable study rooms set-up with AV equipment
Second Floor:
The second floor is an expanded space and home to the Adult department. Here are some things you’ll find:
Adult book section
Movies, books on tape, and music available for rent
Reservable study/working spaces
TONS of natural light and common area tables/chairs
Large meeting rooms available for the community
Sky-bridge to the library parking garage
The Main Library is set to reopen it’s doors on October 1st, 2022. There will be a day of festivities at the library on the 1st, starting with a ribbon cutting at 8am, and family programming starting at 10am in the children’s department. Kids can get their very own library card with a parent’s photo ID (must be residents of Carmel, IN).
Special children’s programming will resume after the 10/1 opening, with regular series programs resuming at the start of 2023.
We can’t wait to get back to the Library this fall! It is such a great resource for everyone in the Carmel community, but this new renovation feels like children and their parents were taken into special account in its design.
To see more footage and video from our visit to the library, follow @keepingupincarmel on Instagram!