Friends of the Watauga County Public Library
Renovation Project
John Arnaud Architect PLLC
Proposed view from the Circulation Desk to new meeting room space
The Watauga County Public Library is embarking on a long-awaited renovation of its current facility in Boone, North Carolina. After 28 years with no major updates, the renovation becomes more crucial with each passing day. Join us in renovating the library to better serve all the residents of Watauga County.
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Our $1.5 million renovation plan includes significant enhancements to the existing floorplan, optimizing space utilization and incorporating cutting-edge technology to meet both current and future library needs. The plan preserves the Friends of the Library Books & Crannies Used Bookstore space which was just refurbished in anticipation of the renovation.
Our Story
The Need for Renovation
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Since its opening in 1997, the Watauga County Public Library has faithfully served Boone and the surrounding community. The library’s popularity has led to wear and tear, with the growing collection filling every nook, and requests for varied services increasing. While expansion is a long range goal, an urgently needed renovation is our current focus. Creating a pleasant experience for all library users is crucial.
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The library is seen as a lifeline for the community with a friendly and welcoming environment. Current library usage statistics show an impressive impact on the library’s operations for the community:
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Visitation has skyrocketed by 73% since the easing of COVID Safety Protocols.
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Circulation has jumped up 25% from pandemic years.
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In 2024, 241 events were held in the meeting room with 5400 attending even with Hurricane Helene affecting the area. Some 15 groups desiring to use the space are turned away each month.
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The county population has grown from 41,633 in 1997 to a projected 54,218 in 2025.
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80% (30,553) of county residents, not counting ASU students, hold a public library card.
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Patrons saved $3.6 million by using the Watauga County Public Library for books in 2024.
Why Now?
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As the years have ticked by since the library’s opening in 1997,
space has been used to its fullest… and then some.
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The current facility is almost 30 years old.
The carpet is almost 30 years old.
The furniture is almost 30 years old.
Current spaces will be renovated to maximize a consistent and efficient flow for library users, staff, and community members, and bring systems up to date. Proposed renovations will be aligned with a potential future expansion.
What Our Users Want and Need!
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Our patrons have spoken and we have listened! The proposed $1.5 million renovation will provide improved areas for
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Programing for children, teens, and adults
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STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) materials and activities
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Local history and genealogy resources and Digital Watauga initiatives
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Comfortable seating for reading and research
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Private workspaces
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Community meeting rooms
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Friends of the Library events and storage
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Staff workspaces supporting public services
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Program planning and preparation
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Staff offices for various tasks
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Circulation and Technical Services work and storage
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Staff meetings and training
The Desired Renovation Project
Main Street
Rethinking the existing layout and anchoring a library ‘Main Street’ between the circulation desk and new conference rooms will offer the community additional places to meet, easy wayfinding between the library’s resources, and improve ability of staff to interact and monitor activities throughout the facility.
John Arnaud Architect PLLC
Youth Services & Story-Time Area
Restructuring our story area to create a flexible and technology-friendly place will allow our team to better manage events with participation that varies with the seasons. Relocating youth computers and the service desk will allow staff to better respond to patron needs. Implementation of a sound masking system will help the facility manage, but not lose the joy of youthful excitement. A reimagining of the story area into the new ‘Story Stacks’ will create a place for story time to serve groups of varying sizes and incorporate technology without interfering with the library’s other offerings.
John Arnaud Architect PLLC
Adult Services & Digital Resources Offerings
Increasing the footprint of the department, the quantity of computer stations, the reach of the service desk, and the infrastructure for innovative technologies will allow our ‘Digital’ Adult Services to collaborate with schools, businesses, entrepreneurs and the community as a hub of technology and digital literacy.
John Arnaud Architect PLLC
Staff & Volunteer Areas
John Arnaud Architect PLLC
Reconfiguring the east workroom will allow Youth Services to work in a dedicated office. Technical Services will gain a private office with dedicated storage space and an IT closet and desk to share with the regional library’s ‘floating’ IT manager. The main workroom will be updated to create a dedicated Circulation Office that is separated from the bustle of main workroom. The reconfiguration will allow additional cabinet storage and work counter to be added. The local Friends of the Library, that work tirelessly to support operations, will gain a small dedicated space for them to collect and sort.
Digital Watauga
Reconfiguring the existing shared office and study rooms will give both Adult Services and Digital Watauga private spaces to work and a sightline to their unique departments. Locating local history media near Digital Watauga will allow volunteers and proud Appalachians a place to quietly learn about and celebrate their heritage.
John Arnaud Architect PLLC
Friends of the Watauga County Public Library Renovation Project
140 Queen Street
Boone, NC 28607
828-264-8784