"It is a part of history:" Tippecanoe Library to undergo complete renovation

MILWAUKEE (WITI) --  Tippecanoe Library, a branch of the Milwaukee Public Library system (MPL), will undergo a complete renovation of the interior of the building beginning February 2nd.

For Janice Guetchidjian, a regular at Tippecanoe, it is a bittersweet day.

"I've been a member, or citizen of Milwaukee, for 51 years, and I've lived in this area for 20. So I just love it here," Guetchidjian said.

As part of the renovations, Tippecanoe's entrance will expand, there will also be more windows, a teen center and larger community room.

During renovation, a temporary site will open across the street from Tippecanoe Library at 3933 S. Howell Ave. The temporary site will have a selection from the popular collection of materials and DVDs, holds pick-up, laptop computers, onsite parking, ADA accessibility, and a book drop. Hours of service will remain the same.

On Friday, visitors had a chance to "say goodbye" to the old library.  From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. visitors could sign the memory wall, brows the Tippecanoe Library scrapbooks and view renovation renderings.

"It is a part of history here that we have," Guetchidjian said.

By 2020, MPL will have replaced or updated the entire branch system with 21st century, technology-rich facilities many of which will be part of a multi-use facility.  The total amount budgeted for the five libraries in $22.4 million.