City Heights/Weingart Branch Library Hours
Mon.: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tues.:11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Wed.: 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thurs.: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fri.: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat.: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sun.: 12:30 - 5 p.m.
One of the first patrons at the City Heights/Weingart Library Monday morning was Melody Tibbetts. The City Heights resident was relieved the location was finally reopen after it had closed this summer to undergo renovations. She said she tracked the library branch's updates on social media.
“We were following it on Facebook. That’s why we knew it was open today, and we came the first day," said Tibbetts, who had popped in to print a stack of documents, including several job applications.
The facility at Fairmount Avenue and Wightman Street is one of the busiest libraries in the city, ranking fourth among the system's 36 branches for public computer use, a city spokeswoman said. When the popular location shutdown for more than six weeks to undergo more than $300,000 in updates, it likely disrupted the routines of the library's 239,000 annual patrons, including Tibbets.
Tibbetts said she regularly visits the library to print paperwork, check out books with her daughter or just to cool off, but she had to go elsewhere during the closure because she doesn't own a car to travel to the next nearest branches. The libraries in North Park and Oak Park are each about two miles away.
“It’s difficult, we had to go other places. We’d end up in Starbucks," she said. "And it’s nice because it’s free here.”
The library got even nicer during the last six weeks. A community block grant helped fund new carpets, fresh paint and improved bathrooms. Staff also added barcodes to materials for self check-out.
City Heights Branch Manager Jennifer Geran said the updates were badly needed.
“It did need to be done," Geran said. "This building's been open for going on 20 years now and was badly in need of new carpeting and paint, just a fresh new start."
The library and its programs are back on a regular schedule. A grand opening event is scheduled for Oct. 21.
A celebration for the newly constructed Skyline Hills Branch Library will also take place this month.
