The Grand Rapids Public Library is planning a major renovation to its main downtown location, even as its systemwide number of registered borrowers declines and operating expenses rise.
The library’s flagship downtown location will partner with a Dutch design and research team called includi to “reimagine” its teen and children’s section, lobby, and lower-level common areas. A report from the library published in 2025 said the renovation was partly to control a proliferation of inappropriate behavior by patrons in the building.
Project organizers make no mention of this report on the renovation website, instead saying the plan is centered around making the facility into a community-oriented third space.
“By investing in the design of these heavily used areas, we will create a high-quality library experience that will evolve alongside our vision for the future,” organizers wrote. “Because we want our plans to directly reflect your needs and interests, we are inviting the public to collaborate with us along the way to build the kind of public space our community needs and deserves.”
In the behavior report, the Main Library campus had far more incidents than other branches. Librarians attributed this to the building’s proximity to Veterans Park, where many homeless gather.
The most frequently recorded offenses in the library’s report were “Loud or Disruptive Behavior” and “Angry/Agitated.” Other less common offenses included drug and alcohol use, masturbation, pornography, urination and defecation, indecent exposure, and fighting.
The renovation project will span four phases that involve planning, fundraising, and designing the renovation. Members of the public are invited to attend an information session with members of includi to discuss the project and share input.
A frequently asked questions page associated with the project attributed part of the redesign to safety concerns. Organizers wrote that limited sightlines within the building limit “effective behavior management and security.”
Cost estimates for the renovation are expected to be forthcoming from includi, though the library predicts a cost between $3 million and $3.5 million. The library says it plans to seek an external fundraising partner, rather than seeking a new tax millage. It is also accepting community donations for the project.
Information collected by database website Library Technology Guides shows the collective Grand Rapids library system has seen a steady decline in registered borrowers, even as operating expenses continue to rise.
As of 2024, the most recent data provided, the library system had 52,547 borrowers and spent $13 million. That figure represents a stark change from 2020 when it had nearly 60,000 borrowers while spending $11 million in operating costs.
Even farther back, the library had as many as 66,861 borrowers in 2015 while spending just $8,773,657.
Overall systemwide library visits have recovered from a slump of just 92,686 in 2021 to 495,245 in 2024. That figure pales, however, to the millions of visitors that regularly came to the libraries from 2006 to 2011.
Several online commenters say they no longer visit the library due to repeated disruptions caused by unruly patrons.
The library system spends 75% of its budget on salaries, with the remaining quarter going toward acquiring books and operating buildings. It sourced $13.7 million dollars from “local government” in 2024, making up the majority of its $14.4 million budget that year.
Write to jackson@grherald.com