Batavia library renovation starts in November, and the building stays open

The Batavia Public Library is starting a 12-month renovation in early November 2026, and it is staying open the whole time. You can still borrow books, use computers, find a study spot and get help from staff. What changes is where some things are and where some programs meet.

What is different right now

The Lower Level closed to the public on Monday, Sept. 28, to get ready for Phase 1. That part of the building holds Youth Services and staff work areas, and the library says construction there is expected to start in early November. As of Monday, Nov. 9, its renovation page had not posted an exact start date.

Youth Services has moved to a temporary home on the Main Floor. The full youth collection has been available upstairs since Oct. 2, along with toys, puzzles and Youth Services staff. The library says some collections and services may be limited during construction.

What to expect during construction

• Work happens in phases, so collections, computers, study areas and staff help stay available.
• Some areas may move as work progresses.
• Expect some noise and occasionally adjusted paths through the building.
• Storytimes and other children's programs return starting in November. The library's November calendar lists baby, toddler and preschool storytimes.

Some programs are meeting offsite

The library says some programs will be held at partner locations around town during parts of the renovation, with more details to come. Its current calendar already lists programs at:

• Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln St. (craft nights, a homeschool hangout and Books Between Bites)
• Sturdy Shelter Brewing, 10 Shumway Ave. (Sweet Life After 50, plus our listing for the Holiday Coasters craft on Nov. 24)
• Shannon Hall, 14 N. Van Buren St. (Sundays on Stage: Meet Mary Cassatt on Nov. 22)
• Callahan Community Center, 150 Houston St. (Holiday Stories during Celebration of Lights on Nov. 29)

Always check the event page before you go, because the location is listed on each program.

What is being updated

The building is more than 24 years old. The library's renderings show refreshed spaces on both floors: the lobby and circulation area, adult services, a quiet reading area, the teen room, a makerspace and the lower level children's and storytime areas. The library says the project will improve accessibility, lighting, furnishings, technology, study and meeting spaces, and energy efficiency, while keeping the building's classic look.

Will it raise property taxes?

The library says no. It is paying for the project with its Special Reserves and bonds supported within the existing Operating Fund, which it says it planned for over many years. The library's renovation page does not list a total project cost. Tri-Cities Central reported in June that the project was budgeted at $14.4 million and that early estimates ran about $400,000 over budget, which the library director planned to address by simplifying staff-area finishes and trimming furniture costs.

More free stuff from your library card

Renovation or not, your Batavia card still gets you passes, a Library of Things and streaming. See our guide to free stuff your Tri-Cities library card gets you, which also lists free programs coming up at all three libraries. Teens can also sign up for the International Snack Challenge on Nov. 17.

For the latest timelines, service changes and progress photos, the library points patrons to its renovation page at bataviapl.org/renovation.