New $7.7 Million Main Library Opens

January 12, 2013

More than 200 people gathered Friday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the new West Florida Library main location at 239 North Spring Street in Pensacola.

The library reopened after a two-year renovation and expansion which nearly doubled the library’s size to 51,000 square feet. The two-phase project included the construction of a new wing on Spring Street, after which the original 1957 building was gutted and renovated. The new library includes an expanded children’s area, meeting rooms, coffee shop, bookstore and more. The library also includes more than 50 new computers, including a 10-station computer training lab.

“This library is a tremendous resource and asset for our community,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “Whether you’re coming to learn, to take online classes, or just to read a good book over a cup of coffee, this library will have something for everyone. This library is truly a beacon of possibility and a testament to our faith in tomorrow.”

The $7.7 million project was funded by $6 million in local option sales tax monies, a $606,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, surplus dollars from the construction of the Tryon Branch Library, and a $100,000 donation by the Friends of the Pensacola Public Library.

The ceremony also featured the dedication of a firefighter memorial and a new wing named for Maurice Bartholomew, a Pensacola firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty in 2000. Bartholomew, an avid reader, was based at the old Fire Station 1, which was previously located on the site of the new wing.

The new library becomes the City of Pensacola’s first LEED-certified building, incorporating a number of energy-efficient strategies, such as a tankless gas water heater and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The improvements are expected to cut the main library’s energy costs by as much as 15 percent.

Comments

5 Responses to “New $7.7 Million Main Library Opens”

  1. Sandie on January 16th, 2013 10:35 am

    socialist project???

    Why do some people call every good thing done with tax payers’ money a socialist intent? Would you get rid of FEMA too –not if it were your dwelling you needed help restoring I bet!
    I am grateful for the many libraries, in my life, that have helped to enrich my life; it is my hope that many generations will continue to use these marvelous facilities.
    Wonderful that dedicated firefighters, who have given their lives, be honored in this way.

  2. Jane on January 13th, 2013 7:22 am

    I am more interested in the Molino library opening……………….

  3. Sandra on January 12th, 2013 4:30 pm

    Thanks FireKat. He was a hell of a guy and we all miss him greatly.

  4. FireKat4 on January 12th, 2013 11:59 am

    I had the priviledge of sharing a few Fire Science classes with Maurice and remember him to be a firefighter with true dedication, a willing-to-learn spirit, and a great sense of humor. I was overjoyed to hear that they dedicated a wing in his memory.

    “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lays down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

  5. Southerner on January 12th, 2013 4:53 am

    Another socialistic project.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News