New Eastside library readies to open March 15
There’s still flooring to lay, walls to paint and electrical to connect at the new Lexington public library, which opens March 15 near the corner of Palumbo Drive and Man o’ War Boulevard.
Eastside library branch manager Kelly Lamm is sure it will all come together.
And when it does, the library will unveil “makerspace” — areas where citizens can paint and build and “get messy,” as Lamm says — as well as big conference rooms, a dedicated children’s program room, study rooms, a business center and a drive-through lane where patrons can pick up books they’ve reserved.
“It’s going to be room for us to spread out and grow ... to provide more services, more programs,” Lamm said, stepping over the construction detritus. “The children’s library is two times the size it was. Just having the drive-through is a big thing.”
The 33,000-square-foot branch located at 3000 Blake James Drive formerly housed a luxury car dealership that sold Jaguars and Land Rovers. The new library branch will be the largest in the Fayette County system and will offer 25 percent to 30 percent more books than the Eagle Creek branch, which permanently closed on Feb. 26. It will also offer 105 parking spaces, up from the 85 at the Eagle Creek location.
The library paid nearly $4 million for the property and planned to spend about $3.6 million to re-work the building and around $30,000 for additional books and materials.
The Eagle Creek branch building sold at auction in November to a Lexington doctor, Danesh Mazloomdoost of Pain Management Medicine, for $2.3 million.
Lamm said that while the library offers designated services for groups from children to teens to adults, she wants those who use the new library to offer suggestions for its future additions and changes.
“I want people to come in and tell us what they want,” Lamm said. “We’re going to have places that are like your traditional library, but also fun space.”
Cheryl Truman: 859-231-3202, @CherylTruman
If you go
Eastside branch library grand opening
10 a.m., March 15, 3000 Blake James Drive
Speakers and ribbon cutting precedes a day’s worth of activities
Children’s wing:
10:30-11 a.m. Crawford Middle School Choir
11:30-12:15 p.m. Family Storytime
1-1:30 p.m. Movement storytime and kids yoga
1-4 p.m. Cambo the Clown
2-2:30 p.m. Movement storytime and kids yoga
3:30-8:30 p.m. Drop-in crafting
Adult wing
2-2:30 p.m. Dixie Land South Band
5:30-6:30 p.m. Love Viola Group
7-8:30 p.m. Jazz
Small meeting room
11-11:30 a.m. Q&A with architects and builders
11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Building Eastside video (repeating)
Large meeting room
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Yoga for adults
1-2 p.m. Tai Chi
3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Newton’s Attic challenges
Makerspace
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: Mosaic workshop
1-3 p.m. Mosaic workshop
4-7 p.m. Wooden pen workshop
Fayette County library circulation
Beaumont—720,412
Tates Creek—644,426
Eagle Creek—520,298
Central—403,915
Northside—248,323
Village—126,827
Annual visits made by patrons
Central—512,030
Beaumont—338,967
Tates Creek—305,159
Eagle Creek—291,022
Northside—214,298
Village—210,227
This story was originally published March 5, 2016 at 5:54 PM with the headline "New Eastside library readies to open March 15."