BELOIT, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ office will award Beloit Public Library with a $3.89 million Flexible Facilities Program grant to assist with library renovations, said officials Monday.
Evers’ office said the grant will respond to four key community needs in a post-COVID environment: workforce development, access to healthcare, high-speed Internet access and education. The renovations will provide guests with the necessary tools, monitoring systems and technology while boosting early childhood literacy.
Library renovations will include an upgrade to Wi-Fi 7, six classrooms, seven flexible rooms, two health monitoring rooms, three computer labs (with additional laptops for on-site remote work), four virtual interview/study rooms, a sensory room and two work/play carrels that allow adults to work while young children play safely in an enclosed side pen.
BPL said the renovations will also make way for its new “Discovery PLAYce,” an early learning center intended to provide children ages 0-6 and their caregivers opportunities for building early brain development through hands-on activities and experiences. The free learning center will be integrated inside the library and feature its own picture book collection.