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Library director outlines Aug. renovation, service shifts and strategic-plan progress
Summary
Library Director Jeff Collins told the Davenport Public Library Board the Main Library will undergo carpet and paint renovations Aug. 17 through just after Labor Day; staff will keep book drops open, add morning hours at the Eastern branch and continue courier service. Collins also reported year-one strategic-plan progress and a materials-budget shortfall and mitigation plan.
Jeff Collins, director of the Davenport Public Library, told trustees at their July 21 meeting that the Main Library's interior renovation is scheduled "August 17 until just after Labor Day," and staff have planned service adjustments to maintain access during the work.
Collins said the project will replace carpet and freshen paint while preserving core services: "The book drops are gonna remain open, and we're adding morning hours on Mondays and Wednesdays at Eastern so that we have a little bit more hour operational hours for patrons," he said. He also confirmed daily courier services will continue and that holds can be redirected or fulfilled by borrow-by-mail.
The director detailed a string of facility and program improvements completed or planned this year, including new LED lighting, refreshed exterior paint at the Main library, enhancements to the Richardson Special Collections Center and new landscaping and wayfinding work. He said the library will receive a 2024 Chevy Equinox to replace an older outreach vehicle and that the car will be housed at the Eastern branch to improve materials transport.
Collins also reviewed year one of the library's 2026'28 strategic plan. "During the first year of the plan, we completed 17 of the 22 objectives that we had planned," he said, noting progress across six strategic directions: community awareness, lifelong learning, collection development, accessible facilities, equitable policies and financial stewardship. Collins told trustees staff removed some longer-term objectives and made measurable progress on multiyear initiatives.
On budget matters, Collins disclosed an internal error led to an FY26 materials budget overspend: "We actually overspend our FY '26, materials budget," he said, and added staff reduced e-book purchases in some areas and reallocated funds to cover the shortfall into FY27 while identifying other funding sources. He also announced the library now has access to Ancestry.com and added military records that expand patrons' genealogical research options.
Collins reported program-level changes and partnerships: the "Go Ask Alice" sculpture by Anne Lodewine was installed outside the Main library as part of a Quad City Arts initiative and will remain on display until next June; accessibility statements were added to program descriptions, leading to accommodation requests that staff were able to meet.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about the roof (Collins said repairs were completed last fall) and staffing changes; Collins noted the library's idea team has disbanded, but training and materials the team produced remain available. The director said staff will provide further public notices about the renovation schedule and operational adjustments ahead of the August work.
Next steps: the library will notify the public about temporary hours and service alternatives and return with routine updates on implementation and strategic-plan milestones.
