Your Youth Renovation Guide

Big changes are coming to the Christine Lind Hage Youth Room at RHPL, with renovations beginning in November and finishing in May 2027. 

Youth Services has some of the oldest furnishings and fixtures in the building, with some items originating as second-hand donations or dating back to the old building on Pine Street. To update the most well-loved department in the library, the room must be closed to patrons and staff during the renovation period for safety and efficiency. Read on to find out how RHPL is committed to staying open and keeping you engaged throughout the project.

Offline in November

To prepare for the renovations, the Youth department will be temporarily closed in November as staff work to create a pint-sized experience of the Youth Room elsewhere. Patrons can expect services and browsable collections to return as soon as the move is complete. Staff will be stationed outside of the room for reference help and to grab available items.

New Locations

Once the move is finished in November, curated browsing collections will be in the Lobby and Multipurpose Room (DVDs and puzzles will move upstairs). Reference services will also be available in the Multipurpose Room.

Programming Changes

Programs have been planned at off-site locations, in alternate locations in the building, and will be packed up neatly for patrons to "Take & Make" at home. View the programming lineup and details on locations and registration at rhpl.org/calendar.

Set Your Shelf Up

RHPL is encouraging you to Set Your Shelf Up this November by checking out as many items as your family will need to satisfy your reading habits through December. The more books you take out before November, the faster we can relocate collections, and the faster we get back to service. Learn more in our Set Your Shelf Up guide.

Ways to Engage

While patrons should expect spaces to feel a little cramped at times, RHPL will help parents and caregivers find moments of joy and ways to engage children, even during periods of disruption. Get free swag, participate in art projects, and play, even during construction.

The More Things Change...

Other updates during this period will also include the first-floor bathrooms, which will receive much-needed updates to plumbing and fixtures. The elevator will be in working order by the time the renovation begins, so patrons can access bathrooms on the second floor. Outreach Services will also be reconfigured during the Youth renovations to create new, more efficient floor plans in both Youth and Outreach Services.

...The More They Stay The Same

Change can be hard, but temporary pinches lead to meaningful and thoughtful changes that will benefit generations to come. We cannot wait to show you how the new space will (still) be enriching, family-friendly, and innovative. We'll be here with you all the way.

Visit rhpl.org/renovations for details and updates, including a sneak preview of the room, timelines, disruptions, and new locations for services. And sign up for The Leaflet, our new digital Youth Services newsletter, for updates sent directly to your inbox.