It's out with the old and in with new at the Hartley Public Library.

Old carpet is being replaced with new vinyl flooring throughout the building. According to library Board Member Dave Vander Broek, the carpet was installed when the library expanded to the east in the 1990s.

"That's a long time," he said. "We've got our use out of it."

NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS

The many books inside the Hartley Public Library have been moved from the shelves up front to the meeting room in back to accomodate the reflooring project.

The library will be closed through Saturday, April 30 to accomodate the improvements. No meeting space is available during the closure and no overdue fines will be charged. Patrons should hold their books and materials rather than returning them, as the drop box will also be closed. WiFi and Bridges online resources will be available as usual.

The library's book collection was moved to the back meeting room last week, which took several days. Shelving and other furniture was moved to the south half of the building and will be moved to the other side when crews are ready to switch.

CFE won the bid for the flooring material and installation for $29,885.87. The Friends of the Library group contributed $5,000 toward the project, and the remaining trust funds from the John Schlarbaum Estate (currently a little over $9,100) will be used. The rest (approximately $15,800) will be from the general library fund.

Vander Broek noted CFE, Land O' Lakes and Valero Renewables – Hartley contributed monetary donations for the project.