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Macalester Public Library to reopen October 2026 after major renovation
Summary
Library staff told the council the McAlester Public Library renovation is on schedule for an October 2026 reopening, with new features including a north-side entrance, a 3,500 sq. ft. Choctaw Nation‑run coworking center, learning stairs and more than 1,500 new books arriving.
Lacey Setter, assistant manager of the McAlester Public Library, told the council the renovation remains on schedule and the building is set to reopen to the public in October 2026. "We remain on schedule and on track to reopen the library to the public in October 2026," Setter said, and detailed finishing work now underway: ceiling installation, drywall, interior glass, HVAC testing and a planned flooring start after a five-day moisture test.
Setter described new and expanded features that staff say will change how the community uses the space: a relocated north entrance, signature "learning stairs," a reimagined children's section with a handcrafted train built by students, a discovery center with a 3D printer and podcast recording equipment, and a 3,500-square-foot coworking and business center to be managed by the Choctaw Nation Small Business Development staff. "This renovated library will also feature 10 public meeting rooms, flexible gathering spaces, improved accessibility, and modern shelving," she said.
Staff gave timeline details. Exterior paving and parking work is expected to be finished by July 31; millwork installation will begin Aug. 10; crews will turn on the HVAC system to begin required moisture testing before new flooring is installed. Setter said the temporary library at Edmond Doyle Elementary has continued to serve residents strongly during construction: staff circulated more than 6,700 items in the last month, a roughly 26% increase year over year. She also said the project relied primarily on local and private funding and partnerships rather than state or federal dollars.
Lindsey Alexander, chair of the Library Advisory Board, introduced the update and invited questions from council members and the public. During Q&A, council members asked about the handcrafted train'—staff said a commercial estimate had been about $30,000, but a local school project produced it with roughly $1,000 in materials, providing a hands-on student experience. Setter closed by inviting the council to participate in a planned grand‑opening celebration when the facility reopens.
