Menasha’s newly renovated library shatters view of traditional library

MENASHA — The newly renovated Elisha D. Smith Public Library might well shatter your view of what a library should be when it opens on Feb. 8.

That is unless you envisioned a library with a makerspace equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters and engravers and a water jet cutter capable of slicing through glass, granite, steel and titanium.

Or a recording studio for making music and producing podcasts.

Or a fully furnished kitchen for use in culinary classes.

The Menasha library offers all of that after its $9 million renovation project, in addition to the more traditional stacks of books, CDs and DVDs available for checkout. There’s still a quiet reading area with a large fireplace and a friendly staff willing to help locate what you need. Plus, it all happens within a bright, airy atmosphere and a décor filled with artwork and inspirational quotes.