Its only public entrance and exit is up a long stairway. Parking has been limited to curbside spots on a hilly street, with sloping sidewalks to the building. As more people now drive cars, parking has become tighter. Inside the library, rest rooms and furnishings designed 90 years ago do not serve many of today's patrons well. The building is not handicap accessible, so people using strollers or wheelchairs are virtually excluded.
Space is also a problem.
While the floor space has not changed in 90 years, the types and amount of materials available has multiplied several times over. The Elroy Library now has computers, a photocopier, videos, cassettes, microfilm, CDs and newspapers on microfilm - as well as 17,000 books and 70 magazine and newspaper subscriptions. Room for children's and adult's programs is practically nonexistent. Many chairs that used to be available for patrons are now displayed on top of bookshelves due to lack of floor space. They considered expanding the building on three sides and closing an adjacent street, but dropped the idea when nearby residents opposed the plan.