Boonville library schedules June 28 open house after renovation; furnishings shifted after $400,000-plus bid overrun

Library representatives told the Boonville City Council on June 2 that renovations at the Kemper Campus library are nearly complete and the public is invited to an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 28 during Heritage Days.

The library speaker said the project produced an "explosion of a community hub" around the Kemper Campus and that organizers are planning a three-level open house, though furniture will not yet be installed. "We had to shift funds that we had in the budget for furnishings into the construction renovation budget because bids came in over $400,000 more than we expected," the speaker said.

The representative said staff plan to reuse as much existing shelving and equipment as possible, refurbishing upper-level stacks and seeking donors to "adopt a piece" of furniture. The library aims to install main-floor shelving 44 to 47 inches tall so visitors can see across the floor and take advantage of natural light; organizers said that also improves security for staff.

Attendees will see display boards showing the furniture the library hopes to acquire and price tags for potential donors, and smaller items such as cushions and shredders will also be identified for donation. The speaker thanked the council and the Friends of the Library, identified in the presentation as a 501(c)(3) volunteer fundraising group.

Council members briefly asked logistical questions during the meeting, and one resident asked whether the library's decorative bathtub would be present for the open house; the representative said it would have a place in the building though it was not yet on site.

The presentation was informational; the council did not take any formal action on the library item during the meeting.