“It was my safe place”: Walker mayor leads push for library expansion

Mayor Gary Carey Jr. understands the impact of access to a library because he’s lived it.

As a child, he rode his bike to his local library, where he found a safe place to spend time and stay out of trouble.

That habit continued into adulthood. He remains a frequent visitor and supports staff during March Is Reading Month, visiting local schools with librarians to read to students.

“The love for libraries for me was just my safe place,” he says. “It was a place to escape, learn, and explore.”

Carey is leading a $23 million effort to nearly triple the size of Walker’s public library, part of Kent District Library. The expansion is a response to years of overcrowding that left families in hallways during programs and limited the number of residents who could use the space at one time.

The city’s then-8,000-square-foot library struggled to keep up with demand, particularly with children’s programming and community events.

“There’s obviously a disconnect in those numbers in what our residents expect us to provide,” Carey says.

That gap showed up daily inside the building.

“We are so excited. The need was very clear,” says Liz Knapp, regional manager for Kent District Library branches, including Walker.

Expansion was solution

The Walker library first opened in 1991, built with room to expand. Located within the city’s civic campus near City Hall, courts, police, and fire services, it was intended to serve as a central community space.

But over the years, the community outgrew the original structure.

“Story times were so packed that parents had to leave strollers outside. Sometimes they had to stand outside the room so the kids could participate,” she says.

Carey says those scenes pushed city leaders to act.

“It took that visual a couple of times for us to say, we’ve had enough; we’re going to do this,” Carey says.

In response, the city is investing an estimated $23 million — largely funded through a bond — to expand the library to about 30,000 square feet. Operations are funded through a KDL millage paid by residents in the district.

The new library is on track to open in the fall.

“We’re buying thousands of new items so we will have an awesome collection when we open,” Knapp says.

The added space will allow multiple programs to run simultaneously, reduce crowding, and create dedicated areas for children, teens, and adults.

“It’s going to allow us to do so much more for the community,” Knapp says.

Plans include a podcast recording room, a gaming lab for teens, and a community room with space for about 250 people.

“We’re hoping to have story time at least four or five times a week,” Knapp says.

Building its audience

The design reflects changes in how libraries are used today.

“It’s very practical,” Carey says. “There’s a space for everybody to go.”

The expanded facility is expected to draw people from beyond Walker as well. It will allow Walker to host larger programs — including author visits and events — that were previously held elsewhere in Kent County.

Carey says the goal is to create a central gathering place.

“This is going to become the new beacon of our community,” he says.

The design team prioritized maximizing natural light, incorporating strategically placed large windows to bring in sunlight year-round.

“I want to see as much sun as humanly possible,” he says. “There’s a very purposeful design to give us the most available natural light to help our mental well-being.” 

Construction began in 2024, about a year after Carey publicly committed to starting the project. 

During construction, library services have temporarily moved to a storefront in a plaza on Lake Michigan Drive in Standale.

“We’ve seen some people who didn’t usually come to the Walker library,” Knapp says. “I feel like we’ll bring them back with us when we go into the new library space.”

Civic institution

Carey says libraries play a larger role in community life beyond books.

“If you want to pulse on a community, I can think of no better place to go than the library,” he says.

He walks his talk. He’s a regular face at the library, confirms staff.

“He’s in there all the time getting his stack of books, saying hi to everybody,” Knapp says.

Knapp also has a personal connection to the Walker facility.

“It was my childhood library,” recalls Knapp, who began going to the library in the ‘90s. “It was kind of bittersweet when the old library was being replaced.”

Carey, who is wrapping up his second and final term as mayor, says he plans to deliver his final State of the City address inside the building before it officially opens, giving residents an early look.

The mayor says the project addresses a long-standing need.

“There is a place for you to go there, to call your own,” Carey says.

Photos by Tommy Allen and renderings courtesy of KDL

Literacy Matters is a series focused on the importance of knowledge, community resources seeking to remove barriers to access, and the value of our library systems to society. Literacy Matters is supported by Kent District Library.