The Springfield-Greene County Library District received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in 2022. The Board of Trustees voted to use that funding for three renovation/construction projects. The Midtown-Carnegie Branch Library project is complete.

The Library Center

November 2025

The Hatch Auditorium is making great progress and will be ready for occupancy in December. The Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled for January 16-18, featuring a Teen Silent Disco at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 16, a STEMusic Concert with Roy Moye III for families with children ages 2-11 at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 17 and Geezer in Concert at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 17 (free tickets for Geezer will be available starting Saturday, January 3). Bob Holden’s Community Jazz Ensemble will conclude the opening festivities with a performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 18.

The retractable seats are being installed in the Hatch Auditorium, the restrooms are finished, and the library to auditorium entrance is almost complete. The parking lot is nearly paved, the new drive-through lane is open and a new indoor book drop is accepting returns. Work has started on the updated main library entrance, and the main concourse restrooms will be remodeled soon.

September 2025

This summer brought significant progress on the Hatch Auditorium, including extensive interior work that is not visible to the general public. The exterior of the building is nearly complete, and work has begun on redoing the parking lot on the west and south sides of the facility. The new drive-thru lane and book drop are being completed with hopes to open in October. Until then, the staff are offering curbside service to patrons. The project is on schedule, and a grand opening celebration is being planned for January 2026.

June 2025

Construction on the Hatch Auditorium is progressing inside as the exterior is almost complete.  A few of the more detailed updates include:

• The lobby glass will arrive soon.

• The covered parking (former lumber storage for the hardware store) in the rear lot is being removed to make room for improved striping to add more spots.

• The parking lot asphalting around the Hatch Auditorium addition will take place in stages, and the work has begun.

• As part of this project, Meeting Rooms A and B, located near the main entrance to the Library Center, will be permanently separated, and the electrical work is currently underway.

• The Board of Trustees recently approved adding restroom remodeling to the project scope. The main restrooms, located on the concourse, will be updated in the coming months.

April 2025

The building's exterior is nearly complete, and the roof has been installed. Work has begun inside the auditorium. The restrooms are fully installed and the two buildings will soon be connected. The retractable seats have been ordered and should arrive in October. Sound baffles will be added to the ceiling to assure sound quality for upcoming concerts and performances. The construction is currently on schedule.

Additional updates include:

• The west and south parking lots will be resurfaced in stages, with work starting soon.

• The east side main entrance and book drop-off will also be updated as part of this project. These projects will begin soon; watch for traffic signs to temporarily redirect entrances and drive-through lanes.

February 2025

This month, the steel and concrete are going into the Hatch Auditorium and the roof is almost complete. Installation of the HVAC and fire suppression systems will begin at the end of the month. The weather has delayed some aspects of the project, but the construction crew is still on schedule.

Additional updates include:

• Sidewalks have been added to the east and north sides of the main parking lot.

• The employee break room has been moved to accommodate the new restrooms for the Hatch Auditorium addition

December 2024

It is very easy to see the progress on the Hatch Auditorium, as concrete panels were added on December 12 and 13. Each panel weighed 30,000 lbs. and was 35 feet tall and a large crane was assembled on-site for the project.

Also, at the Library Center, the driveway on the north side of the parking lot has been prepared for the new sidewalks and the fire lane. This will provide patrons with a safer route from the bus stop to the library. We will also add sidewalks along the east side of the parking lot to connect the two sidewalks already there.

Inside the Library Center, demolition has begun on the employee breakroom to turn it into the Hatch Auditorium restrooms. The breakroom will be relocated as will other employee work areas.

November 2024

The District broke ground on the Hatch Auditorium addition in September 2024 on the west side of the building. The new addition will include a 500-seat auditorium for library and community events. The project is expected to take 14 months, with a grand opening in early 2026. Currently, the site work has begun and the excavation of the new site is almost complete. Many large boulders needed to be removed before the construction could begin.

This project will also include a new interior book drop to be located near the drive-up window and a permanent wall to be installed in the meeting rooms located near the Library entrance. 

Project Cost: Estimated at $7,650,000

Architect: Sapp Design Architects

Contractor: Branco Construction

Project Manager: Jessie East, The Library Center Branch Manager

The Republic Branch Library

November 2025

Things are progressing quickly at the Republic Branch Library.  So quickly that patrons are invited to the Republic Branch Library’s Farewell Celebration on Saturday, December 6, 2025. There will be a fun "see you later, alligator" storytime at 10:30 a.m., followed by a human book chain starting at 11:30 a.m.  The existing branch will close on December 8, and the new branch will open on January 20, 2026.

Interior spaces are being completed with drywall and paint. Acoustic ceilings and millwork are underway and flooring will continue. Exterior light fixtures and curb and gutter are in progress.

September 2025

The construction of the Republic Branch Library is clearly visible from the existing branch, and many eager community members are excited about the progress. Interior drywalling is nearly finished, and technology will soon be installed in the building. A Farewell Celebration is planned for December 6, 2025, to bid farewell to the current branch. The celebration will include a human chain moving books from one building to the other. The Republic Branch Library will be completely closed after that event, with plans to reopen in late January 2026. This will allow for the transition from the old to the new facility. Stay tuned for more details.

June 2025

The work on the exterior of the Republic Branch Library has progressed quickly.  The new building will have two distinctive sides.  Looking at the front of the building, the Library proper will be on the left side, and the Business Center will be on the right.  The two areas will be connected by a lobby.  Here are some updates:

• The framing is complete, and the roof deck is almost complete.

• The sanitary sewer is complete.

• The footings for the canopy and tension fabric structures on the patio will be installed soon.

• The Board of Trustees approved a $1.4 million budget for furniture, fixtures and equipment and an additional $200,000 for a contingency fund to cover unexpected but necessary changes.

April 2025

Mostly nice weather means there has been a lot of action and progress at the site. The project is on schedule for an early 2026 opening.

Updates include:

• The east parking lot was closed for a few weeks due to the water main installation. That installation is complete, and the parking lot is operational again.

• Underslab electrical and plumbing rough-ins are complete.

• The concrete slab has been poured.

• Steel has been delivered and the framing has begun.

  
  

February 2025

The library hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at the current location on January 16, 2025. All three Greene County Commissioners, Republic City officials, Republic School District leadership, Republic Chamber of Commerce members, former Republic Library staff, current library staff, and a lot of community members were in attendance to show their support of the project.

Construction on the project has started. Earthwork and water main installation are in progress. 

December 2024

The bid opening for the project was held on December 4, and the final guaranteed maximum price will be discussed with the Library Board of Trustees on Tuesday, December 17. Once the final price is determined, Nabholz Construction will begin construction. The library will host a groundbreaking ceremony at the current library location on January 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

November 2024

With the expansive growth in the Republic community, the District will construct a new branch library on the existing library site. The current location will remain open during the construction. The new facility will add a 150-seat auditorium, a business center and maker space. The new library space will include a dedicated storytime space, a dedicated teen space and a refreshed interior to connect the inside with the outdoors. A new patio and walking trail are planned. The District expects to break ground in January 2025, with construction completed in mid-2026. 

Project Cost: Estimated at $8,579,247

Architect: Paragon Architecture

Contractor: Nabholz Construction

Project Manager: Tysha Shay, Republic Library Branch Manager