Rockford’s Krause Memorial Library is Closing Soon!

It is a tough time in Rockford as the Krause Memorial Library will close its doors next Saturday!

This sounds like sad and shocking news, but, it's not as bad as it sounds.

The library announced it will close January 17. But, they will reopen in a new location on February 2nd in the Rockford Community Cabin, just blocks away.

WHY THE CLOSURE?

The answer is simple, expansion and construction!

Fox17 reported that the "location at the Community Cabin will house approximately half of the library's collection while maintaining most services. The facility will include four patron computers for public internet access and a smaller children's area with play materials."

This certainly is a big project since the library hasn't expanded since the late 80s, and they have outgrown the current library. So, rather than stepping all over each other, both staff and patrons, it is time to grow again.

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With a budget of $11.7 million, of which a $5.7 million millage was approved by Rockford voters in November, 2024, along with another $7 million raised by public and private funds, the expansion project is well under way.

The Krause Memorial Library is the busiest in the Kent District Library, KDL, system and is bursting at the seams. Leaders say this expansion will greatly answer the growing need in the Rockford area.

Obviously, not everything will be able to move to the Community Cabin, and the youth programs will be moving to Parkside Early Childhood Center.

Everyone is excited to have it completed, and it is expected all things should move back to the expanded library and reopen in late fall this year.

If you need more information, including the new library hours, CLICK HERE!