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PORT NECHES — Progress is being made toward reopening of the Effie and Wilton Hebert Public Library.

Taylor Shelton, Port Neches public works director, said repairs include most of the windows, window frames, ceiling tiles, light fixtures, some sheetrock work, some storm shutters and new carpet.

The carpet will be replaced due to glass that had gotten into the carpet.

SynergyNDS Turnkey Recovery Team, which oversaw repairs to the Port Arthur Public Library after Hurricane Harvey, is taking care of the Port Neches library project as well as the Port Neches Fire Department, Senior Citizens Center, Public Works Service Center offices, garage and armory.

Shelton is kept in the loop with progress reports numerous times a day, he said.

Library director Mark Durham said painting will be done soon, ceiling tiles will go in and the book stacks are wrapped with plastic ready to go.

Library partner

The Groves Public Library has continued to help its neighboring library during the repairs by providing space for programs.

“They have been amazing to work with,” Durham said of the Groves Library. The Hebert Library’s Children’s Program has continued at the Groves Library.

“It looks like most of our regulars have happily and willingly followed us down to Groves,” he said.

Durham hopes the work on the library is completed in the next three months.

“If we can pull that off, it would be lovely if we could reopen just in time for the Summer Reading Program,” he said.

The library, located at 2025 Merriman St. in Port Neches, has been closed since the Nov. 27 explosions at nearby TPC Group, a petrochemical company.