INDIANAPOLIS — Local citizens are invited to celebrate a major milestone in the history of the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood when ground is broken for a new branch of The Indianapolis Public Library on Tues., Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. at the southwest corner of E. 25th Street and N. Sherman Dr. (2434 N. Sherman Dr.).
The groundbreaking will include presentations by Library and civic officials, the ceremonial turning of the shovel, and an announcement on new Google technology being made available to the neighborhood involving free Chromebooks and mobile hotspots. The Library’s Bookmobile will be on hand to demonstrate this offering.
The new 15,000-square-foot branch will replace the current storefront Brightwood Branch, which sits directly across the street from the new location and has served the neighborhood since 1972. The branch will offer modernized spaces for an expanded collection, activities for children and teens, job search assistance, public access computers and community meeting space. Its visual presence will allow the Library to serve as an anchor to stimulate neighborhood development and eliminate the renting of space for Library services.
The $5.9 million project, targeted for opening in the fall of 2019, is part of a series of capital improvements identified in the Library’s Strategic Plan through 2022 and is funded from individual bonds approved by the Indianapolis City-County Council with no increase in the Library’s debt service tax rate.
Individuals can learn more about this and other capital projects by visiting indypl.org/renovations.
