Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
Suanne Z. Thamm, Reporter-News Analyst
January 6, 2015 3:40 p.m.
An excited library staff opened the doors to the new addition of the Fernandina Beach library on Tuesday afternoon after building officials approved a certificate of occupancy. Over the past weeks, the library was closed as construction ended on the new addition and renovations began on the build’s south side.
Services are limited until final construction ends but books, with the exception of non-fiction, are available for check out. Computers are currently housed in the children’s room, and fiction now occupies the new meeting room area. Passport services are available.
Assistant County Librarian Janet Loveless said that Phase I of the library project—the building expansion–is now complete. The next phase involved the renovation of the older portion of the building. But thanks to the flexibility of library staff and its willing volunteers, library operations have been able to resume after less than a month of down time.
Some of the collections will need to be moved again following the completion of the entire project, which will probably take place later this winter. But in the mean time the portion of the new space destined to be the Children’s Room is open, although it shares space with other collections and functions that will ultimately move to the renovated space.
What will ultimately serve as the new meeting room currently houses the Fiction collection. More than 40,000 items have been stored, and protected, until the existing building can be renovated.
You may now pick up your hold materials at the Fernandina Beach Library branch location. Internet access will be limited until Phase II of the project is complete in early February 2015.
Loveless said that patrons have already arrived to browse and check out materials. She said that the new staff spaces will also be a welcome change, “but not before we get up and running to serve the public that has been so patient with us.”
A capital campaign conducted by the Friends of the Library is still ongoing. Donations can be made on line, or by sending checks to Friends of the Library, PO Box 17155 , Fernandina Beach, FL 32035.
A great day for the library in Fernandina. Kudos to the staff and volunteers as well all of the Friends of the Library and the supporters. Also thanks to the City of FB and Nassau County for their financial support for the expansion.
It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here! And it’s a beautiful sight to behold! I am a retired librarian and have been a volunteer at the Library for 6 years, mostly in the children’s area, so I am so excited to have this new spacious room in which to work! A big “shout out” to the city, county, Friends Of the Library and library staff for their commitment and involvement in making this happen! Fernandina Beach will be a better community in which to live, work and visit because of this renovation, and the new improved library upon it’s completion. The impact of a fully functioning and up to date library is beyond measure. Check out the history of public libraries, starting with the New York City Library and the influence of Andrew Carnegie at the turn of the century, in helping to finance more than 2,800 libraries. I promise it will be a fascinating, not boring, search!
Bravo! We finally have an updated library that will contribute to the quality of life on Amelia Island and properly embrace today’s sophisticated world of information technology. This is more important, actually, is that this project shows that when the City, County, non-profits, and citizens work together, we can accomplish many things that seem impossible in the beginning. Thank you, FOL, for your tireless work and complete devotion to this project.
For years it was the vision, dedication, and hard work of Friends of the Library volunteers who raised funds to build a modern library downtown. When Nassau County and the City of Fernandina Beach partnered with the Friends, and the dream was made a reality.
I walked through the new section of the library Wednesday. It is beautiful. Even in its state of transition, it will take your breath away. The entire island will take pride in in this library for decades to come. Thank you all for this gift.