The Rondo Community Library at University Avenue and Dale Street will close for interior renovations and public safety-related improvements on Dec. 15, shifting services to the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center on Kent Street for up to a year.

The project, budgeted for up to $793,000 drawn from state public safety aid, is expected to reconfigure the entryway, shift a security desk, move restrooms and make other changes intended to improve patron oversight at the Rondo Library, which has sometimes drawn visitors suffering from drug overdoses, unaccompanied minors and other behavior issues.

During the pandemic, as much as one-fourth of the library system’s internal incident reports were generated at the Rondo Library, which has since added a social worker and security specialists familiar with de-escalation techniques, among other safety improvements. The library was closed on Sundays this summer and operated limited hours on Saturdays due to low staffing.

St. Paul Public Library officials hope for better days ahead. Library patrons will be able to pick up and return books at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center at 270 N. Kent St. as of Jan. 3. Library hours at the center will mirror existing hours at the Rondo Library seven days of the week, according to a written statement from the library system.

The Kent Street location will include traditional collections such as books, DVDs, newspapers and State Parks passes, as well as book drop-off and holds pick-ups. It will also feature computers, WiFi, a notary, print, fax, and copy services, study rooms and a meeting room.

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Library programming will continue at the new location, including community coffees, computer classes, the Createch teen program, the Community Resource Outreach Project, the FunLab drop-in kids program, mental health drop-in services, snacks, story time, the Open For Business business counseling program, Public Health in Public Places, Reading Together, Homework Center and other offerings.

The Rondo/Frogtown Loop shuttle van also will service the community center.

Any items that are checked out when the Rondo Community Library closes will have their return date extended to Jan. 31.