The facade of the Gainesville branch of the Hall County Library System will continue to change as construction is ahead of schedule.
"They're getting ready to start the expansion on the back, they've done all the concrete work around the front for the front expansion," said Library Director Lisa MacKinney after a Board of Trustees meeting Monday night. "The building will be leveled up, it used to be a 'top hat,' kind of an overhang around the sides and the front of the building, and that will not be the case anymore, it will all be even, so there's about 3,000 square feet added there and about 7,000 square feet added to the back, and they're getting ready to start that addition.”
While the construction is ahead of schedule, MacKinney wasn't sure when the final project would be complete but estimated it could be anywhere from late spring to the summer. Whenever it was finished, however, she said it would not interfere with their summer reading programs.
The brick facade has been stripped to bare bones, and the paneling that will go up in its place was recently approved by the library board.
"That will be the new facade of the building, where the brick was," said MacKinney. "It is a really hardy panel that will be installed to replace the brick, that will actually be the outside of the building. Those were approved last week and they're being ordered, so they'll start installing those probably right after the first of the year.”
MacKinney said the panels matched the artist's rendering almost, if not exactly, and the design mock-up would come to life.
For those who want to be part of the makeover of the library's main branch, a capital improvement plan developed lays out sponsorship opportunities, some as little as $100.
“We’re offering rooms, sponsorship rooms,” said MacKinney. Like the Spout Springs Branch has the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Community Room, similar naming opportunities will be available at the Gainesville branch. “We’ve had a few nibbles on that, so anyone who is interested should get in there quickly. And, we wanted everyone to have the chance to be part of this so we have some smaller opportunities for somebody who may not have $20,000 to buy a room. For as little as $100 you can have a plaque put in your name or in honor of someone you appreciate, or in memory of a loved one.”
More information about the naming opportunities is online hallcountylibrary.org.
The board also discussed that the SPLOST was passed by Hall County voters this past election, which included a project at the East Hall library branch. MacKinney said they are also planning to apply for a state grant to help fund it.
And, MacKinney welcomed new Assistant and Services Director Adrianne Junius to the team, which will help them expand programming at the Gainesville branch once it is completed.
