APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Appleton Public Library could move to the city’s southeast side while its downtown location is being renovated and expanded.
Library trustees are set to vote Tuesday on a plan to move to the former Best Buy building on Kensington Drive. The temporary location would be a scaled-down version of the current library, with an emphasis on access to the library collection.
“We are fortunate to have found a site that can provide the space we need, in a convenient location on a bus route,” library director Colleen Rortvedt said in a news release. “The temporary library will provide a scaled-down space, prioritizing access to the library collection and technology. We’re also working with our community partners to develop plans for programming in multiple locations throughout the community during construction.”
City officials say the former Best Buy store is a good fit for the library because it does not need much modification. Currently, the city’s health department is using the building for COVID-19 testing, but that is set to end on Feb. 25.
The library is expected to be housed on Kensington Drive for 18 months.
The renovation project is expected to cost $39 million.
