North and South Patios are accessible by patrons for leisurely reading. In addition, improved lighting and ventilation, new fire sprinklers, improved access for patrons with disabilities, and seismic reinforcements were completed during this renovation. The library was reopened on April 5, 1983. A second phase of renovations was completed in 1984, but did not require closure of the building. A structural steel frame supports the building, allowing an open interior.
All exterior walls are glass which contributes to the openness of the building.
A terra cotta grille nine feet high surrounds the entire building. This cuts glare from the sun, and encloses the patios. The basement, totaling 5,000 square feet, is used for storage of periodicals and also houses the mainframe computer which contains the library's bibliographic and circulation records. There is no children's section in the Main Library as the Children's Library is located just four blocks to the west. The collection includes the Library's broadest selection of reference materials, adult fiction and nonfiction, magazines and newspapers, phonograph records, audiocassettes, videocassettes, CD-ROM's compact discs, telephone books, large print books, maps, and pamphlets.