Following the reopening last month of the Oak Bend Branch, St. Louis County Library will open the renovated Cliff Cave Branch at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, as part of the library’s ongoing $120 million renovation campaign.

The $3.6 million renovation of the Cliff Cave Branch, 5430 Telegraph Road in Oakville, began in January and is part of a multi-year capital improvement campaign to renovate or replace 19 branches within the library district. Cliff Cave is the 10th branch to be completed as part of the campaign and will incorporate many of the features debuted in the Grant’s View Branch at Gravois and Musick, the closest library for Oakville patrons during construction.

Photos of the construction process are available

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Visitors to the Cliff Cave Branch will first notice the new entrance, which is now located on the north side of the building. A veranda overlooks the native plants and grasses that surround the new entrance. The new, open floor plan gives the branch a bright, airy feel, according to a library news release. The enhanced children’s area features a colorful, striped portal that leads into the space. The library predicts an oversized reading nook will be a popular spot for kids and parents to cozy up with a book. New shelving similar to the ones debuted at Grant’s View, called browsing bins, has been installed and will allow children to more easily select their own books. The space also features special furniture for families to read and do activities together, as well as a family restroom.

A bold, orange soffit marks the teen space, which includes computers and comfy furniture. A new 20-foot window in the rear of the branch provides views of the Cliff Cave Community Garden. Two private study rooms have been added to the branch, as well as a new computer lab, a quiet reading room, a laptop bar, a business center with fax, copy and scanning machines, and a vending area. A revamped community meeting room with a projector, sound system and whiteboard will be available for use by individuals and organizations. New shelving, furniture and carpeting has been installed throughout the branch.

The renovated Cliff Cave Branch was designed by Bond Architects. The project’s budget was $3.6 million and was funded by proceeds from a 2012 tax initiative, Proposition P.

One of the other county library branches serving south county residents, the Oak Bend Branch in Oakland, 842 S. Holmes Ave., near Sunset Hills and Crestwood, has been closed most of the year and re-opened last month.

St. Louis County Library reopened the renovated branch Wednesday, Aug. 17, with Sunset Hills Mayor Pat Fribis in attendance for a ribbon-cutting.

Construction on the Oak Bend Branch also began in January. The renovated Sachs Branch opened in July, and two additional locations will reopen this fall alongside Cliff Cave: Natural Bridge and Prairie Commons.

Visitors to Oak Bend Branch first notice the new entrance to the branch, which features a large plaza with native plantings and new windows around the entrance. Inside the branch, the floor plan has been completely redesigned. A large circulation desk welcomes patrons. The enhanced children’s area features a colorful entryway. Kid-sized browsing bins allow children to more easily select their own books.

The space also features special furniture for families to read and do activities together, as well as a family restroom. Teens will have a designated space also, with a laptop bar and bold furniture. Two private study rooms have been added to the branch, as well as a new computer lab, a quiet reading room, a laptop bar, a business center with fax, copy and scanning machines, and a vending area. A revamped community meeting room with a projector, sound system and white board will be available for use by individuals and organizations. New shelving, furniture and carpeting has been installed throughout the branch.

The renovated Oak Bend Branch was also designed by Bond Architects. The project’s budget was $3 million and is funded by proceeds from Prop P.

Construction on the new and renovated buildings in Phase One of the Your Library Renewed campaign is expected to be complete by the end of 2016. Phase Two will begin this fall with the closures of Daniel Boone, Bridgeton Trails and Florissant Valley. The timeline is subject to change based on weather conditions and other factors.

More details about the construction projects can be found at

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