ELKHART — The Elkhart Public Library's main branch is undergoing some changes that will affect patrons.

Starting Tuesday, the library's second floor at the 300 S. 2nd St. building will be shut down for two to three weeks while the carpet is replaced, said library director Deborah Stewart.

Once the second floor's renovations are completed, the first floor will be closed off while the carpet is replaced. During the first floor renovations, patrons must use the High Street entrance.

Children's books, about half of the library's non-fiction collection, and the fiction sections will likely be unavailable. That should last another two to three weeks, Stewart said.

While the children's books at the main branch are unavailable, Stewart said, library staff will try to have bookmobiles filled with children's books in its parking lot.

Stewart said she plans to have the library's computers available to patrons during the renovations. The library has four other branches at which books will be available.

Library staff has been working around the renovations since October, but library patrons have put up with the changes, according to Stewart.

“They come in one day and what they're looking for has been moved to another floor,” she said.

Stewart hopes the renovations are complete by the end of January, but said they could last until mid February. She plans to have an open house in April.