This popular Anoka County Library is back in business after being renovated and visitors returning to the facility are going to see plenty of changes.
“Definitely worth the wait,” said Tracy Thieschafer of Blaine. “It’s amazing how much brighter it is. It feels just a lot more welcoming now.”
The Johnsville renovations includes new carpet, furniture and a fresh coat of paint. Library patrons have flocked back to the facility.
“People have been really excited to be back and were excited to be back,” said Erin Straszewski from the Anoka County Library system. “It’s fresh and clean and beautiful and we just love having people back in the building.”
“It’s gorgeous in here,” Thieschafer said. ” It’s so much brighter in here then it was before. Definitely a good improvement.”
The time to fix up Johnsville was long overdue. The library has been around for three decades.
“The building in this location was built in 1995,” Straszewski said. “So after 30 years it was needing a little freshening up.”
Libraries draw crowds
Thieschafer clearly likes the upgrades and brings her kids to the library often.
“I fully believe in holding a book in your hand versus a tablet in your hand,” Thieschafer said. “We love this resource.”
“Our kids space is updated with reading book bins, so little kids instead of having to browse the shelves, they can get down on their hands and knees, go through all the books,” Straszewski said. “It’s a much better experience for them to find what they’re looking for.”
Libraries are free which is a fantastic perk for Thieschafer and others who use them.
“It’s huge and they even got rid of the late fees which is kind of nice as a mom sometimes,” Thieschafer said. “It’s fantastic, we love it.”
“Libraries are more visited across the country than movie theaters and all the major league sporting events combined,” Straszewski said. “People like coming to these spaces and it’s a space that anyone and everyone can come.”
Johnsville is a gathering spot that brings people together in a public setting.
“There’s something about being in a space with the community and being able to share that with people whether it’s reading, or looking for information, or doing a class, or attending a program,” Straszewski said. “That’s very different than being at home on your computer, or looking at your phone.”
“Just love the library,” Thieschafer said. “Love all the programs.”
In a typical year approximately 75,000 visitors go to Johnsville and with the improvements that amount could go up.
