Downtown library closes for renovations

If you're thinking about going to the downtown library, um ... don't. The library's Jones Building closed today for a $15 million overhaul. It'll be closed until late next year; until then, you can request books from the downtown collection at branch libraries, and a "Houston Public LIbrary Express" will operate in the downtown library's Ideson Building.

The renovation project will add more computers, update the look of the building, improve the children's area, add elevators and replace the main escalators with a grand staircase. Based on renderings we've seen, the building's stark exterior will be, uh, enlivened with giant squares (we assume they're art), and the plaza between the Jones and Ideson buildings will be repaved, which we hope will keep the underground concourse from leaking. Unfortunately, Geometric Mouse X, the Oldenburg sculpture that sits on the plaza, will be moved to the corner of Smith and McKinney. We guess it would clash with the new psychedelic pavers.