Learn about the renovation projects happening at EVPL Central

Renovations are underway at EVPL Central to update the facility in phases to better serve our community. During the renovation, we hope there will be minimal impact on library users, but some areas in the building may be closed at times. Check this page for updates on current projects and any area closures.

Additionally, some meeting and study rooms may not be available to reserve at certain times as we work through this renovation.

Project Overview | Current Project | EVPL Central History

Project Overview

Various areas of EVPL Central will receive upgrades and updates, and some will have significant changes.

This work will be done in phases, with anticipated completion by the end of 2025.

READ Center

• New carpeting, painting, and lighting
• New furniture and interactives for children
• A new study room
• Some resetting of collections

Popular Materials Center

• New carpeting and painting
• Moving the Passport Office to this area
• Creation of a new Teen Lounge

Second Floor

• New carpeting and painting
• Enhancements to EVPL Maker Central
• Relocated Reference Desk
• Repurposing of both rotunda areas, with one becoming an additional meeting room
• Creation of 3 new small group rooms and 4 Preservation Studio workspaces

Current Project

Project Update | November 17, 2025

The Popular Materials Center (PMC) is open! While a few finishing touches are still underway, all collections are available to browse, and the computer stations have been reinstalled.

Here’s what you’ll find in the PMC:

• New paint
• New carpet
• New seating areas
• A brand new Teen Lounge

Project Update | September 22, 2025

Beginning Tuesday, September 23, the Popular Materials Center (PMC) will close for renovations. The second-floor nonfiction area will reopen. Additional computer stations will be moved to the second floor during the PMC closure.

These PMC materials will be accessible in the lobby:

• New PMC materials, including:

• • Adult fiction (regular, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.)
  • Adult paperbacks (all genres)
  • Large type
  • Audiobooks
  • Playaways
  • Adult graphic novels
  • YA graphic novels
  • YA fiction and non-fiction
  • New and Best Seller Express DVDs

• All CDs will also be accessible.

The Browning Hall entrance will be open daily, including the restrooms. Anyone attending or hosting programs in the Browning Rooms must use the Browning Hall entrance. Please note, there will be no access from Browning Hall into the library

Project Update | September 15, 2025

The second-floor nonfiction area has been repainted, and new carpet is being installed. Once work is completed, we will begin putting shelves and materials back in place.

New furniture is also gradually being put in place, and Preservation Studio spaces are available for reservations.

The next large area to be updated will be the first-floor Popular Materials Center, so watch for more updates as that work approaches.

Project Update | August 29, 2025

Renovation work continues on the Second Floor. At this time, the Adult Nonfiction collection is not accessible. However, New Nonfiction titles are available for browsing.

Project Update | July 9, 2025

As work continues on updates and renovations, projects are moving along quickly throughout the building. From one visit to another, areas of the library may change substantially.

• The Browning Rooms are receiving new carpet and paint and will be unavailable for meetings or gatherings for a short period of time.
• The Teen Zone is closed, as construction of a new Teen Lounge is underway.
• Other areas of the Popular Materials Center are sectioned off for construction of new spaces, including a Passport Office.
• A portion of the Second Floor construction is complete, including additional small meeting spaces and Preservation Studio booths; these spaces are pending final furnishings to be opened for reservations and use.
• The former Second Floor reference desk and reference materials section has been cleared for resetting collections, with a new reference desk being constructed near the top of the stairs and elevator.
• The rotunda facing Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and Walnut Street is being renovated into a large meeting room.

What’s coming soon:

• The adult nonfiction area, which is nearly half of the Second Floor, will be closed in phases for installation of new carpet.

Project Update | May 1, 2025

• New carpet has been installed in portions of the READ Center, with new participatory pieces for children to interact with and play with coming.
• The River Room has been repainted and has new carpet.
• A new Small Group Room has been constructed in the READ Center.
• EVPL Maker Central has received new carpet and fresh paint.

What’s coming next:

• Construction is underway on three Small Group Rooms and three Preservation Studios on the second floor.
• HVAC system upgrades are ongoing throughout the building.

Project Update | February 14, 2025

• Phase 1 of the READ Center has completed all demolition work and is now waiting on final touches.
• Demolition of the Outreach Area is in progress, and we’re prepping the space for some light carpentry before the final finishes.
• Demolition has also started in part of the 2nd Floor Reference Area. This space is being prepared for the new small meeting rooms and preservation studio rooms. Once construction is finished, we’ll start work on the final finishes.

What’s coming next:

• As final touches are completed, we’ll move on to Phase 1A of the READ Center. This will cover half of the space, while still keeping part of it open for the public. We’ll begin construction in the marketing area, Central Manager’s office, and another part of the 2nd Floor Reference space.
• The collection in the PMC area will be rearranged to make room for upcoming construction.

The furniture package is being reviewed. Once that’s done, the order will be placed to outfit the newly renovated spaces.

Project Update | December 19, 2024

Demolition of Phase 1 of the READ area has been completed. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be putting in new carpet, painting the walls, and adding new light fixtures. After that, we’ll install new shelving for the picture book collection.

Project Update | November 21, 2024

Renovations will start in EVPL Central’s READ Center, which houses our Youth Collection. Some programs previously held in the River Room may be hosted in other areas of the library, including the Browning Rooms and elsewhere in the READ Center.

EVPL Central History

EVPL Central recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, opening on September 18, 2004. The 145,000-square-foot facility has welcomed thousands in the years since. EVPL Central provides information, resources, and support to the city’s dynamic downtown residential, cultural, and business communities as well as to Vanderburgh County at large.

EVPL Central is dedicated to providing our community with the resources it needs. We are proud to offer free meeting and study rooms, WiFi, public computer access, printers, and more.