The Enoch Pratt Free Library has a new branch, but it’s not a place where people can borrow books or videos.

This is a temporary annex that will house library employees while the historic central library on Cathedral Street undergoes a $114 million renovation, and it’s helping bring new life to a historic building in Mount Vernon.

The satellite location is 1030 North Charles Street, former home of the Hynson Westcott & Dunning Pharmaceutical Laboratories, makers of Mercurochrome antiseptic.

The library leased space in the three-story building starting August 1, and the lease will be in effect through September 2018, according to Roswell Encina, the library’s director of communications.

The Pratt has begun a comprehensive restoration and modernization of the central library at 400 Cathedral Street.

According to Encina, that location will remain open to the public during renovations and will have about 125 employees based there throughout the construction period.

But the second and third floors of the Cathedral Street building will be closed for much of the time, and employees based there are being relocated temporarily. (People will be moving in phases, starting around the end of the year, Encina said.)

Poe Room Closed During Renovation

Encina said more than 30 employees are moving to 1030 North Charles Street so crews can renovate their areas without having to work around library staff. Because it is for administrative employees only and won’t house materials available to borrow, he said, 1030 North Charles Street will not be open to the general public.

“The Central Library will remain open so operations will continue for the public,” he said in an email message. “The second and third floors [including] the Poe Room, Wheeler Auditorium and Administrative Offices, will be closing at the end of the year to make way for renovations.”

Encina said all staff members moving to North Charles temporarily are administrative.

“We will be there [until] the second and third floors are complete,” he said. “We’re hoping by closing the second and third floors, the renovation process will move faster.”

Encina said the departments with administrative employees moving to Charles Street include: the Chief Executive Officer’s office; Human Resources; Programs and Publications; the Office of Institutional Advancement; Communications; Children’s Services, and School and Student Services.