MOULTRIE – The Moultrie-Colquitt County public library has been a staple in the city for decades. It’s a gateway for folks who want a little peace and quiet while reading or doing other activities.

However, when it was announced in 2017 that the building on 5th Street Southeast would be getting a complete renovation for the first time since the library moved there in 1964, people were curious to see what would become of their library.

Fast forward almost two years later. The renovations are in the last stage of completion as personnel are preparing for the grand reopening next week.

Renovations include a revamped interior, a new children’s library, expanded technology, new computer labs, study rooms and more.

While the original location was undergoing the renovations, the business of the library set up shop at an old Ameris Bank location free of charge. The move has been going well, according to Library Director Holly Phillips, but it is time for them to come home. She is extremely thankful for the help of the community to get to this point.

“I want to thank people for being so patient and so forgiving through this entire process. People still came to the temporary location and understood we had limited materials and still worked with us. I’m so excited for everyone to come back on Jan. 19. People are going to be blown away by their modern library,” Phillips said.

The Moultrie-Colquitt County library looks to pick up where it left off in 2017 where it saw an increase in analytics before having to switch locations. It saw an increase in items checked out, children books checked out and most importantly an increase in people who came to the library, according to numbers from the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System.

As of now, last minute touches are being put on the renovations and, according to Phillips, there are plans to bring in new programs. They won’t come too soon as she said they are focused on making sure that the grand reopening and the first few weeks of operation go by smoothly.

“We don’t have any new programming just yet, Phillips said. “We want to get settled in the building first but, some of the things we are envisioning works well with what we are building here. We don’t have the plans in place just yet, but the wheels are turning.

Not everything is changing. The library hours will remain the same as always with it being open six days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday and with it staying open later on Tuesdays.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will be on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 4:30 p.m. while the grand reopening will be on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 10:30 a.m.