Library Annex equipped with computer lab slated to open Monday in Bradenton

BRADENTON -- A pop-up computer lab is slated to open Monday near the Bradenton Central Library for patrons affected by the library's Feb. 1 closing for renovations.

The computer lab, called the Library Annex, is at 321 15th St. W., around the corner from the main library.

It features computer terminals for the public, set in a newly painted, lighted and carpeted space formerly occupied by the office of the Manatee Supervisor of Elections.

The annex will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays through mid-April, officials said.

Although the annex has only 15 computer terminals (compared with 50 at the Central Library), it represents a temporary solution as the three-month, $350,000 face-lift takes place, said Kevin S. Beach, operations manager for the county library division.

However, computer terminals will be restricted to those applying for jobs, Social Security or food stamps, for example, or doing research, said Beach. They are not available for playing games or web brows

ing, he said.

Most of the main library's 175,000 books have been boxed up, and its staff re-assigned to branch libraries during the makeover, said Beach.

"It's a great, temporary location for everybody," said Cheri Coryea, director of the Manatee County Neighborhood Services Department, who visited the Library Annex Friday.

She oversees the Central Library and five branch libraries sprinkled around the county.

"I'm really glad we're able to provide this essential service, it has become a crucial area we help our community with," said Ava Ehde, library services manager, who was also visiting the annex Friday.

The Central Library's staff has been re-assigned, with two or three people helping at each branch library, said Beach. They will be cross-training, and helping with the increased workload at the branch libraries, he said.

With the Central Library closed, there will not be a full-service library available on two of the seven days a week: It previously was the only library open on Mondays, and it and all the branch libraries are normally closed on Sundays.

The annex got an interior redesign, new restrooms, new paint and carpet, new windows, exterior paint and landscaping, roof repairs, and new connections for the computer system, according to Charlie Bishop, director of the the county Property Management Department.

The library closing occurs in conjunction with a $12 million "chiller plant" project taking place in downtown Bradenton.

In the past couple of months, the county's "chiller plant" has been under construction at 323 Ninth St. W., and its tentacles, designed to pipe chilled water to other buildings, have resulted in street closings over the past few months across the city's downtown.

The plant is designed to cool county buildings as part of an overall, long-term energy-savings plan for Manatee County.

It is also expected to eventually generate revenue, as it can also provide utilities to potential clients, such as the city of Bradenton, SunTrust Bank and other private businesses, officials have said.

"When the Central Library reopens, it will be the first operational facility on the chiller plant," said Bishop.

The county has scheduled the completion of the chiller plant and the re-opening of the Central Library to coincide on May 1, he said.

Branch libraries include the Braden River Library, 4915 53rd Ave. E.; the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach; the Palmetto Library, 923 Sixth St. W., Palmetto; the Rocky Bluff Library, 6750 U.S. 301 N., Ellenton, and the South Manatee Library, 6081 26th St. W., according to the county website, mymanatee.org.

Sara Kennedy, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7031. Follow her on Twitter @sarawrites.

This story was originally published February 8, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Library Annex equipped with computer lab slated to open Monday in Bradenton ."