Tuesday, December 19, 2023

The Albany-Springfield Branch of the Livingston Parish Library will close to the public starting Jan. 2, 2024, as it undergoes a major capital outlay project, according to Livingston Parish Library Director Michelle Parrish.

The project will involve ripping up the existing carpet, performing preventative moisture mitigation on the slab, and laying down new carpet.

This is the same project currently being performed at the Denham Springs-Walker Branch, which has been partially closed since mid-November. That project is wrapping up ahead of schedule, and the branch will fully reopen to the public on Jan. 2, 2024, Parrish said.

“We are thrilled that the work at the Denham Springs-Walker Branch will be completed sooner than expected, and we greatly appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during this process,” Parrish said.

The Albany-Springfield Branch will be completely closed to the public while the project is ongoing, meaning patrons will not be able to place holds at the branch, use the public computers, or attend normal programs.

To better serve patrons, all items due back to the Albany-Springfield Branch will have extended return dates, Parrish said. Branch patrons may keep their checked-out materials for the duration of the closure, but those wishing to return their items early may bring them to any of the other LPL locations, the Discovery Mobile, or the book drop at the branch.

Additionally, the Library’s Discovery Mobile will be on-site every Monday from 12-3 p.m. while the Albany-Springfield Branch is closed. The Discovery Mobile serves as a mobile branch of the Livingston Parish Library system and offers many services and resources found in traditional branches, such as books, audiobooks, movies and DVDs, and Wi-Fi.

Parrish said patrons can visit any of system’s other four branches, which will be unaffected by this project, and the digital catalog, which is available at www.mylpl.info.

“We understand that this closure will be an inconvenience for many of our patrons who depend on our libraries, and that is why we will do everything in our power to make sure the branch reopens in a timely manner,” Parrish said. “We greatly appreciate the community’s willingness to work with us, and we hope everyone understands this work being done is necessary to prevent greater, more expensive issues down the road.”

Library leaders anticipate the Albany-Springfield Branch to reopen sometime in February, but unforeseen obstacles may push back that timetable.