An Important Facility Update from Library Director Lauri Fletcher
Dear Indiana Free Library Community,
I want to share a brief update regarding our Community Room improvements.
While preparing the Community Room for the installation of our new flooring this week, older floor tiles containing asbestos were uncovered beneath the existing carpeting. To ensure the space is fully modernized and safe for years to come, these tiles must be professionally removed by certified abatement specialists before our new floor can be installed.
I want to reassure our patrons and community of three very important things:
1. The Library is Open and Completely Safe
The health and safety of our visitors and staff is always our absolute highest priority. As a standard safety precaution, the Community Room has been completely closed and sealed off from public access while we coordinate next steps. The rest of the library—our main lending floor, children’s library, reference area, and computer stations—is completely unaffected and operating on our regular schedule.
2. We are Working Closely with the Borough
We are coordinating directly with our partners at the Borough of Indiana to ensure that certified environmental remediation specialists handle the removal quickly, thoroughly, and in strict compliance with all state and federal safety standards, including certified air clearance testing before the room reopens.
3. Program Updates & Evening in the Stacks
While several of our regular clubs and activities have been relocated to alternate spaces throughout the building, some programs normally held in the Community Room have been temporarily postponed. We encourage patrons to check our online event calendar or give us a call to confirm the status of specific upcoming programs.
Most importantly, our annual Evening in the Stacks celebration on Friday, October 23, will take place as planned! Our team is already adapting our event setup across our beautiful main floor, reading spaces, and historic stacks for a wonderful night celebrating the library.
We truly appreciate your patience, understanding, and community support as we take the necessary steps to make our library spaces better and safer for everyone.
If you have questions about specific programs or room reservations, please ask our team at the front desk, call us at 724-465-8841, or reach out via our website at indianafreelibrary.org.
Warmly,
Lauri Fletcher
Library Director
Indiana Free Library
845 Philadelphia Street | Indiana, PA 15701
