Less than a week before its long-awaited reopening, contractors and staff at the Coral Gables Branch Library were busy refinishing the grand entrance double doors and transferring books from small rolling carts to dust-free bookcases.
Miami-Dade Public Library System Director Ray Baker said the renovation process was at “the end of the line,” with only final touches remaining after two years since the doors closed in April 2021.
The revamped library will reopen on Monday to the public.
The changes included replacing the roof, installing impact-resistant windows and updating the electrical and data wiring system. The library also added new furniture, carpeting, lighting, computers, ample seating options, an updated staff lounge and fully-renovated bathrooms.
Baker said 35% of the books and materials in the library’s collection are now brand new and “fresh out of the box.”
The price tag for the first major renovation to the 1968 building: $6.8