Haverford Township Commissioners have approved $20.8 million in Haverford Library renovations, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.

The Haverford Township Free Library is in a former bank building built in 1926 at 1601 Darby Road at Mill Road.

But despite being a community hub, the library has had years of heating and air conditioning issues, an antiquated elevator, subpar wiring for its state-of-the-art technology, broken toilets, and inefficient use of space.

The renovations will increase public space by more than 30 percent, adding an addition to the second floor. 

To get approval for the renovations, the library had to create at least 10 additional parking spaces.

Library officials have purchased a home across the street for $675,000 at 1 Mill Road, which will be demolished to create the spaces.

The library hosts 235,000 visitors a year and has always been restricted to a small parking area next to the building, forcing patrons to drive around the neighborhood looking for parking.

The library will be closed for renovations starting Saturday, Nov. 4. A temporary library with limited books and services will reopen after Thanksgiving in the Manoa Shopping Center.

The project will take about 18 months.

Find out more about the Haverford library renovations in the Daily Times.