South County Library to Close for Renovations until late 2025

The South County Regional Library in Estero is poised to undergo a comprehensive interior and exterior renovation. The project will improve and modernize the facility in an effort to meet the needs of the fast-growing Estero community. The library was remodeled from a former bank processing facility in 1996.

The library will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, and remain closed until renovations are completed, estimated to be in late 2025.

Planned internal improvements include a major overhaul of the library space, including new furniture, flooring and shelving, additional study rooms and a room for children’s programs, along with a complete update of the building’s mechanical, electrical and technology systems. An automatic material handling system will be installed for more efficient library material returns. Exterior improvements include a roof replacement, new paint and an enhanced public entrance.

Funding for the renovation will come from the library system’s budget for capital improvements.

“The renovations planned for the South County Regional Library were designed with the growing Estero community in mind, including reconfigured and expanded spaces for adults, teens and children,” said Mindi Simon, director of the Lee County Library System.

The children’s space will include an early literacy play area, additional public access computers and a study room, as well as a multipurpose room dedicated to programs for children and teens. The new teen area will include computers, a gaming space and an additional study room.

The adult area will also include private study spaces, raising the total number of study rooms to six.
Some spaces will have furnishings to encourage collaboration while other areas will be quiet spaces for reading and working.

Three Oaks Park, located at 18251 Three Oaks Parkway, will host the Lee County library system during the renovation period. Limited library services will be available at Three Oaks Park beginning Monday, Sept. 16.

These services include library staff assistance, holds pickup, popular books for checkout, computer access and printing, exterior book return, and library card registration and renewal. Staff from South County Regional Library will be working at the Three Oaks Park location and at other library locations throughout the county during renovations.

As always, library cards are accepted at all Lee County library locations. The closest branch to Estero is the Bonita Springs public library located at 10560 Reynolds Street.

This temporary library closure is necessary for the Estero community’s trusted library to receive improvements that will benefit everyone.

“The renovated space will modernize the interior of the building while maintaining the level of service the residents of the Village of Estero expect from their county library,” Simon said.

Library services at Three Oaks Park hours:
Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Sundays

For more information on the project and library services, visit www.leelibrary.net.