The Metro Council voted against the renovation of the downtown library building at a special meeting on Tuesday night, staying with its original plan to construct an entirely new facility.
A request to the Library Board of Control to plan an upgrade to the existing downtown library — instead of moving forward with plans for a new structure — was removed by a council vote of 8 to 2.
Councilmen Ulysses Addison and Scott Wilson voted against the movement.
The library project will continue as originally planned, with a new building in the works. Specifics of the new library are still under consideration, but budget of $19 million was included in the original plan.
Members of the public came forward at the meeting to voice their opinions on whether to remodel or replace the existing River Center Branch library.
Mayor-President Kip Holden gave several examples of ways a new building would support the Baton Rouge community and local children. Holden said technology companies, musicians and film producers have shown interest in using a new downtown library to hold events and activities for the area.
He also suggested collaboration between the library, Old State Capitol, Shaw Center, Manship Theatre, Louisiana Art and Science Museum, USS Kidd and the Louisiana State Museum to benefit children through education.
“This is a library in one sense and an urban learning center in another sense,” he said. “This urban setting will offer a lot of things not available at other