The Maya Angelou Northeast Branch Library is currently closed for remodeling.

This branch library first opened at 3051 E. 21st in 1996. The branch had previously been housed at storefronts on 21st Street as well as in the City of Wichita's Atwater center. The Library's current master plan, titled Focused on Community: A Master Plan for the City of Wichita's Branch Library System 2019-2023 , calls for remodeling the interior and putting a small addition on the west side of the building.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 15. Construction is expected to take 3-4 months.

Updates

• October 18, 2024: Work has included demolition of carpet and select interior walls, as well as removal of some ceiling tiles.
• November 1, 2024: The storefront framing and glass have been demolished. Interior walls have been framed and electrical work is in progress.

Floor Plan

This design puts an addition on the west side of the building; changes the interior layout; adds a study room; and includes new flooring, furniture, lighting, and art.

Artwork

Artists are being selected to create works at the Alford, Angelou, and Rockwell branches. Funding comes from the Percent for Art Ordinance and the City of Wichita's Capital Improvement Plan. In 2019, the Wichita City Council approved an ordinance that allotted 2 percent of capital improvement funds to a pool of funding allocated for the commissioning of on-site artworks that then become part of the citywide art collection. The administration of the Percent for Art Program is overseen by the Design Council, an 11-member advisory board.

Artwork at the Angelou branch will include:

• Front Desk Glass Graphics: Brightly-colored translucent window graphics for glass dividers inspired by Maya Angelou's work
• Exterior Signage: Street signage in the colors of the Divine Nine

Applications for artists closed on September 13, 2024. Final selection of artists is expected to take place in October 2024, with design and fabrication of works to follow.

Interior Renderings