ARLINGTON -- Something fishy is going on at the Lake Arlington branch library.
The 10,000-square-foot library will close next month while it undergoes an aquatic-inspired transformation. Deep blue carpet with a swirl pattern; new paint, fixtures and artwork; and a 200-gallon freshwater aquarium featuring native Texas fish and plants will help reflect the 25-year-old branch's connection to the lake it is named for, said Debi Wood, library services manager for the city's west side."The aquarium is a special feature we think children will really enjoy," Wood said. "We are really interested in making that connection to the lake and bringing in some public education about how we can keep our lake clean."As part of the nearly $168,000 project, the city will expand the children's section, create teen and adult reading areas, upgrade the library's Wi-Fi capabilities and add more electrical outlets for laptop users.The library, at 4000 W. Green Oaks Blvd., will be closed Aug. 1-28. This is the first major renovation in 12 years, and more than 60 percent is being funded through private donations and grant money."It's an incredibly busy building. The furnishings, the carpet and the walls are really showing the wear and tear," Libraries Director Cary Siegfried said of the branch, which has about 600 visitors a day.The carpet has been worn bare in places, and much of the furniture is original to the building, Wood said.The computer section will be updated with refurbished tables and new chairs. Adults and children will each get access to two more computers, and four more laptops will be available for teens to check out after school.More than 500 people and local business contributed about $38,000 toward the renovations."We wouldn't have been able to accomplish that without the enthusiastic people that use that building," Siegfried said.The aquarium, funded by a $20,000 grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, will contain native fish species, which could include red-horse minnows, longear and redbreast sunfish, black bullhead catfish and Rio Grande cichlids. The library is seeking sponsors for long-term maintenance of the aquarium, which it plans to use as an educational centerpiece.Programs planned for this fall include story times and craft programs for children, teen programs, and classes on subjects such as aquatic culture and water conservation.Online: www.arlingtonlibrary.orgSusan Schrock, 817-390-7639Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
