It is sad, but it's a good thing. We've been promised a new library "in 5 years" for the last 30 years. The roof leaked every time it rained or snowed (water is so good for books), the basements leaked (there were three separate basements because the building had been Frankensteined together since 1899) and it wasn't up to earthquake code. Since we sit on the Wasatch Fault that's really not good. It had an upstairs that we couldn't use at all because there was no elevator. Even staff wasn't allowed to use it so it was so much wasted space. The air conditioner and heating system were so old we had to custom order parts every time anything broke, and something new broke every summer. It even had this giant switch on it (think "Pull the Lever, Kronk!).
The new building is supposed to be three floors. It will have 2 outdoor terraces, lots of meeting space, a maker space, and the kids area is going to have some fun play promoting features. We keep telling our patrons it will be great when it's all done.