LADY LAKE, FL (352today.com) – While libraries are typically quiet places where loud voices are shushed, no one at the Lady Lake Library would be upset if there were boisterous cheers there this week.
The library has reason to make some noise. It received a $1 million grant.
The money is coming from the Lake County Library Impact fee and will go toward what the library is calling an “ambitious expansion project.”
The library says the money fund the Children’s Library portion of the project and the Town of Lady Lake will foot the bill for the rest including expanding the Information Technology Department.
The project will expand the footprint of the youth library area by 69%, from 4,560 square feet to 7,697 square feet.
“This expansion is crucial for meeting the growing needs of our community,” said Library Director Aly Herman in a news release. “We have quickly outgrown our current youth library, and this project will allow us to significantly enhance the library’s collection and programs, benefiting all our patrons.”
The Town of Lady Lake anticipates a dozen new development projects and an increase of 8,500 people in the next four years.
Currently, the library serves about 14,500 visitors each month.
“The Lady Lake Library is a vital resource for our community,” Town Manager Bill Lawrence said. “This expansion will ensure we can continue to provide excellent services to accommodate our growing community. We are thankful for the generosity and support we have received from Lake County towards realizing this vision.”
The library expansion will provide additional shelving space, reading areas, a larger storytelling room, a multifunctional study and additional study spaces.
The library also hopes to increase its children’s collection by 25% and offer more programs.