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Indianapolis Public Library highlights Pike Branch renovation, opens podcast studio
Summary
At its June 23 meeting at the renovated Pike Branch, the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees heard a presentation from Pike Branch manager Michael Jenkins describing the branch's recent renovation, new spaces including a podcast studio and teen room, staffing changes, and early usage metrics.
Indianapolis Public Library Board President Ray Biederman convened the June 23, 2025, meeting at the newly renovated Pike Branch and invited branch manager Michael Jenkins to present updates on the site’s reopening and services.
The Pike Branch reopened March 29, 2025, following a comprehensive renovation, Jenkins told the board, and the project added a podcast studio, a redesigned teen room with stadium seating and gaming consoles, expanded study space and four private study rooms, and other upgrades meant to boost community programming and access.
The renovation, Jenkins said, builds on Pike’s history: the branch originally opened in May 1986, was later expanded in 2001, and has long served patrons from nearby Pike High School and the surrounding township. Jenkins said the branch now also hosts a seed library and has renewed outreach to teens and families.
Jenkins described usage since reopening as modest but growing and said staff are developing outreach plans to increase awareness across the service area. On the podcast studio, he said the hardware and setup are largely complete but the studio is not yet fully operational: “The podcast studio is not a 100% up and running right now … we’re just waiting on … four mic stands and the cores. That’s literally it,” he said.
Board members praised the staff and the renovated space. Jenkins also reviewed staffing changes as the branch resumed full operations: several transfers returned from other branches, new hires were added to the roster, and he credited branch staff and project partners for the reopening events and programming.
Jenkins and the board discussed behavior management and safety planning for teen use of the branch; Jenkins said he meets regularly with the branch security guard to address issues that arose after reopening and that staff have plans to redirect and support teens who sometimes misbehave. He emphasized that teens are a primary demographic and said staff aim to teach and support appropriate behavior.
Jenkins concluded by inviting the board and the public to use the new spaces and watch programming grow as the branch ramps up operations.
The board meeting continued with other agenda items after questions and comments about Pike’s reopening.
