The Oklahoman: Oklahoma City’s Belle Isle Library reopens with more space and modern amenities

The old and the new collide after a renovation of one of Oklahoma City's oldest public libraries.

The 59-year-old Belle Isle Library sits on the corner of Villa and Northwest Expressway, and is known by residents for its mid-century modern architecture — its circular design has led it to be called the "Millennium Falcon" by some. Its iconic flagstone facade is now joined by brightly glazed orange, green and turquoise bricks and a vast expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows on the southeast side.

After a nearly two-year renovation process, the library is ready to welcome visitors. The community is invited to celebrate the reopening starting with a ribbon cutting at 3:30 p.m. Friday and a weekend full of concerts, games and tours of the new amenities.

"Myself and my staff are about to have the biggest sigh of relief possible," said the Belle Isle branch manager George Tocco. "We've been working so hard, working under so many different conditions and having so many things happen."

From August 2020 to the end of March, the library and its staff occupied a temporary location on Northwest Expressway.