Starting Monday, June 27, the Chestnut Street entrance to New Hanover County’s Main Library branch downtown will be closed for construction.
“The construction around the library’s Chestnut Street entrance is meant to correct pavement problems and to tie the entrance to the new Story Park that is under development at the corner of Third and Chestnut Streets,” NHC Library Directory Harry Tuchmayer said in a release. “We are sorry for this inconvenience, but want to emphasize the Main Library is still open for business as usual.”
Work around the entrance, which is the main gateway to the building from the streets, is expected to take about a month. Groundbreaking on Story Park, which will offer interactive educational features for library patrons of all ages and other people walking in that part of downtown, was held last month.
According to the NHC Library website, “Story Park features will be connected through the story and recurring image of a butterfly who appears throughout the landscape, providing a touch point for educating visitors about the essential role of green spaces in sustaining insect, bird and animal life.”
The park, which is funded through the parks bond approved in 2006, is scheduled to open in October.
Patrons will still be able to enter the library’s ground floor lobby through the parking deck, which has entrances on Second and Third Streets. The Second Street entrance to the parking deck is handicap-accessible, and a book drop has been temporarily placed there for after-hours book returns.
For more information on the construction and on Story Park, visit the New Hanover County Public Library website.
