Remodeling construction begins at Martin Luther King Jr. Library
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$2.5 million in federal funding, secured in 2023, to transform the second floor into a creative community hub.
Construction begins today on a major remodeling project at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 9898 E. Colfax Ave., made possible through $2.5 million in federal funding secured through a government appropriations process for community projects led by Congressman Jason Crow. The work is scheduled to be completed by fall 2025.
This renovation will open the building’s second floor to the public for the first time since its construction in 2004 and will expand the footprint of the library on the main floor, transforming the building into a dynamic hub for creativity, learning and community connection. Based on community input, the upgraded area will include digital media labs, maker spaces, flexible program rooms, expanded seating and study areas.
When the building opened in 2004, it was designed to host city offices on the second floor, with library services only on the first floor. During the COVID-19 pandemic, city staff moved out of the second floor leaving the full building for library use.
“This is a transformational investment in the people of Aurora,” said Ginger White Brunetti, director of Library and Cultural Services for the city of Aurora. “Thanks to congressional support, we’re able to expand this cherished library without relying on city funds. We’re not just building space — we’re building opportunities for creativity, learning and belonging.”
Throughout construction, the library will remain open with minimal disruption to current services.
The project also comes as the Aurora Public Library is in the midst of a systemwide facilities and strategic planning process, where facilities –some as old as 60 years old– spaces and community needs are being assessed. The improvements at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library are among the first steps in addressing needs and preparing the library system for the future.
Located in the heart of Aurora, the Martin Luther King Jr. Library serves as a vital resource for youth, families and lifelong learners. In 2024, this branch received more than 70,000 visits and hosted over 40,000 computer sessions both on the library’s computers and wirelessly.
For more information and project updates, visit AuroraLibrary.org.
About Aurora Public Library
Aurora Public Library serves the city of Aurora with a population of 400,000 at seven branches, one bookmobile, access to digital materials and hundreds of programs. In 2024, Aurora Public Library as a system received 560,000 in-person visits, had 1.2 million items checked out, answered more than 330,000 questions from the community, had more than 65,000 program participants and hosted 5,700 meetings at its community rooms. Combining all the different ways the library serves the community, Aurora Public Library was used 3.4 million times in 2024 alone.