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EVPL Red Bank is now closed to begin the work of constructing a new library for you! A temporary library location is planned to open nearby in early 2026.
JUMP TO: EVPL Red Bank Express | Project Overview | Concepts of the Future EVPL Red Bank | EVPL Red Bank History
EVPL Red Bank Express
EVPL Red Bank Express will open on Wednesday, March 4, offering library services and resources until the new EVPL Red Bank opens.
The location includes a portion of the former EVPL Red Bank’s collection of books and other materials, with titles for all ages. Many other library services are also available, including public computer access, print/copy/fax/scan services, a drive-thru material return, EVPL To Go, and pick-up opportunities for items requested from other EVPL locations. The location does not offer meeting or study spaces, and programs that had typically been hosted at EVPL Red Bank are being held offsite or at other EVPL locations.
A library materials drop box is available now at EVPL Red Bank Express, behind the building in the covered drive-thru, offering a convenient west side option for returning EVPL books and materials.
Updates to the EVPL Red Bank rebuild project will be provided via EVPL’s social media, website, and print and digital newsletters.
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Project Overview
Renderings of the new building, courtesy of MKM architecture + design, will be shared soon. The new building will be approximately 20,000 square feet, feature multiple meeting and study rooms, dedicated programming spaces, and capacity for nearly 80,000 items.
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Concepts of the New / Future EVPL Red Bank
At a public information/listening session in December, representatives from MKM, the architectural firm for the project, presented early concepts and direction for the future of EVPL Red Bank.
A Library in the Woods
Concepts for the new EVPL Red Bank incorporate the wooded area to the north of the property, with features to create connections between interior and exterior spaces.
The library will also be planned with biophilic design in mind, connecting humans with nature. Lighting choices, shapes, and forms inspired by nature, environmental features, and natural finishes and patterns (such as wood and stone) all contribute to physical and sensory experiences.
Designs that incorporate nature and natural elements can reduce stress, improve cognitive function and creativity, and improve well-being.
The new library will include meeting and reading spaces that face large windows and green space, and incorporate design elements and features with specific ages and needs in mind.
Detailed plans will continue to evolve over the coming months, with more information to be shared as it is finalized. Below are many of the visuals shown at the presentation. Some slides are excerpts from EVPL’s Master Facilities Plan released in 2022; others are early draft renderings and floor plans showing the ideas and direction for the new library.
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EVPL Red Bank History
The Red Bank Library building was dedicated on September 14, 1991, and underwent renovations in 2006. Over the years, this location has provided programs, materials, and offerings to hundreds of thousands of patrons of all ages. The Howard Room, the large meeting room, was named for Ed Howard, who spent 33 years as the head of the library system.
Rebuild Project FAQs
Why is a new building needed for EVPL Red Bank?
The need to increase the size and scale of EVPL Red Bank has been recognized for many years. EVPL Red Bank, which serves the western part of Vanderburgh County, was built in 1991 and was scaled to that area’s population at that time.
The West Side has changed substantially in those 34 years, and during the development of EVPL’s Master Facilities Plan, released in January 2022, it was determined that the current building is smaller in space and collections than what has been needed for many years.
When assessing the scope of this project, both an expansion and a rebuild were researched. An expansion of the current building would be almost as much as the rebuild due to issues within the current structure and what major renovations would be needed.
How much will the project cost, and how is it being paid for?
The project is being funded by a $12 million bond issuance, which was approved by the Library Board and the Evansville City Council in 2025. The project amount does not meet the threshold where taxpayers would vote on the project during an election. The bond issuance keeps the library’s debt service tax rate neutral. The percentage of the library’s debt service fund is not increasing.
The bond issuance was done by EVPL and is not funded by the city or the county. The library system has its own tax levy that is separate from the city and county budgets and operates independently with its own governing Board of Trustees per state statute.
What is the initial timeline for this project?
On Thursday, December 11, from 6:00 – 7:30 pm, library users can learn more about the project during an information session with MKM architecture + design and EVPL leadership at EVPL Red Bank.
Now through December 12, EVPL staff have planned several ways to commemorate time spent in the library and learn about the future of the location, including a full week of programs dedicated to saying goodbye to the current EVPL Red Bank.
Once the library closes December 12, staff will begin boxing up collections to prepare them for relocation to storage or to the temporary location being established, which is planned to open in early 2026.
The current site will be prepared for construction of the new building by first demolishing the existing facility; architectural and design plans will also be finalized during that time.
It is anticipated that the project will go out for bid in Spring 2026.
Is the Heidi (stained-glass) window moving to the new building?
While the Heidi window will not be part of the new Red Bank location, we are currently in discussions on how to commemorate, remember, rehouse, or repurpose the window. It is not the intent to have it demolished with the building.
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