Orland Park Public Library Renovation Project is Complete

Listen! There's no more hammering, drilling, or painting! The Orland Park Public Library renovation project is complete, on time and on budget.

Although the pandemic has changed our daily lives, the Orland Park Public Library has remained open in order to serve our patrons and community in a safe and cautious way. Whether patrons visit the building to browse for a good read, pick up materials using Grab 'n Go, bring a Take 'n Make craft home to create, engage in our home delivery service, or participate in our virtual programming, library staff have creatively been able to meet the needs of our patrons. The library has seen a reduction in circulation of 26% in 2020 due the pandemic.

As patrons enter the lobby, they are met with a bright, welcoming environment that offers a customer service-friendly layout including two self-checkout stations, the Lucky Day collection, Patron Pickups, and comfortable soft seating. In the near future, the Orland Park Public Library will be adding an In Recognition
Wall that will highlight patrons, as well as local area stakeholders who have generously donated to the library's Capital Campaign throughout the years.

Patrons are welcome to visit the Children's Library, where patrons will be greeted by a nature-themed portal that highlights the library's More Than Grass mural. Children will marvel at the different flora and fauna of the Orland Park area which is represented here. The entire mural can be viewed in the Preschool Area of the Children's Library. Two additional study rooms have been added to the Children's Library, for a total of six study rooms, that offer a quiet place for children to study.

Tweens, in grades 3-5, can check out The In-Between, an area created just for them! They can enjoy their own space, which has ample room for studying, crafting, gaming, visiting with friends.

The Preschool Area for the library's youngest patrons has a new design that encourages children to explore and learn with interactive pieces throughout the area, as well as curl up with a good book in one of the newly designed book corrals. When in-person storytimes return, children will love the look of the Storytime/Craft room, which now features clear acrylic doors to let the natural light shine through. Quotes from some classic children's literature now adorn the wall which children and parents will delight in reading together. New comfy furnishings will be enjoyed as children sit back and listen to a story or two from their favorite children's librarians.

Two new rooms have been created. The Nest offers a tranquil area for mothers to nurse their little ones, while bonding with them in privacy and comfort. The Darvin Furniture & Mattress Sensory Room provides a gentle atmosphere for patrons who will enjoy a relaxing and quiet area highlighted with specialty lighting, engaging tactile activities, and soothing acoustics.

The library's large meeting room has been expanded to allow 200 patrons to sit comfortably and enjoy a historical retelling, a musical concert, or an educational lecture. Two large screens have been installed, so everyone can view the event, along with pitch perfect acoustics.

The Friends of the Orland Park Public Library is front and center in their new "bookstore" location directly across from the main staircase. Patrons are welcome to browse the gently used books, DVDs, audiobooks and more from The Friends organization generously donates the proceedings to the library for programming for patrons of all ages.

As patrons proceed to the second floor they will notice many new changes and additions. The Teen Loft is a teen's dream space come true! Teens, grade 6-12, have their own enclosed area which boasts two study rooms, study pods, bench seating, a gaming area, as well as a DIY craft table and multi-seat study table. The teen librarian is close by to help them find their perfect weekend read or perhaps a test prep book from one of its special collections.

State of the Art Technology has arrived at the Orland Park Public Library! The Computer Lab houses 15 stations for patrons to utilize while participating in one of the tech classes offered by the IT team. An exciting add-on to the lab is the ability to project tech information from the lab's projector to the reflective glass along the corridor, so patrons passing by can learn something new. The Today's Business Solutions Tech Center offers the newest tech devices for patrons to discover such as the Glowforge 3D Laser Printer, VHS to DVD Converters, Cricut Cutting Machine, and MAC Computers.

At the north end of the building, the large Quiet Study Room has seen quite a renovation as it is now the Multipurpose Room which can be used for small community meetings, book discussions, scout troop gatherings, and committee meetings. Rounding out the changes on the second floor is the addition of two additional study rooms which can seat four patrons comfortably and offer a quiet place for study. So, the library now has 14 study rooms total.

The crowning touch to the library's renovation project is the addition of an outdoor nature center called The Backyard! Through the generous and thoughtful donation by the Aileen S. Andrew Foundation, The Backyard offers patrons of all ages a place to enjoy the beauty of nature through all four seasons. Look for storytimes, concerts, STEAM activities, and nature programming to be held in this beautiful area.

All are welcome to visit and enjoy the beauty and resourcefulness of our newly renovated spaces when they feel comfortable.

See more information about the library's budget and architect here.