County pouring money into libraries: Plans for new main library would triple current size
WEST PALM BEACH — Palm Beach County is looking to build a new main library to replace the current 53-year-old facility on Summit Boulevard that is “well past its useful construction life,” officials say. The existing library would be torn down to serve as a parking lot for the new library, which would triple the size of the current one.
Library Director Doug Crane discussed the proposal with Palm Beach County commissioners May 7 when he presented the library budget for fiscal year 2025. He reported that the current building is half the size of comparable main libraries in other large counties in Florida.
The new main library would be built near the existing one.
The library budget, filed with the county, envisions a library of up to 130,000 square feet, nearly triple the existing one, which spans 50,000. The new building would have conference rooms and large meeting rooms like those at the South County Civic Center that can accommodate more than 200 people, something that is lacking in the central county, Crane said.
He said plans for a new library in are in the early stages but the design costs for the two-story building are expected to be around $22 million. If county commissioners approve the library budget, the new library may open sometime in 2030. The two-story building would have a large outside event space that would be accessible when the library is closed.
Crane said library officials will be seeking community input to help prepare those design plans. With the large population increase in Palm Beach County, the county library system has been building new branches and renovating older ones to accommodate new and existing residents.
Palm Beach County libraries chief: 4.6 million visitors last year
How would a new county library be funded?
Library officials expect to spend another $18 million to renovate the Okeechobee and Hagen Ranch Road branches in the next three years. Both branches will be closed for about a year while a total interior redesign is undertaken. In the past six years, the county library budget has increased to $84 million from $53 million, an increase of 58%, and another $10 million hike has been requested for fiscal year 2025.
Its millage rate of 0.5491 has not been raised since 2011, but with the rise in property values, the millage rate has generated enough to pay for its operating costs as well as its capital costs.
The county library system currently consists of 17 library branches. The $28 million-plus Canyon Branch library, under construction west of Boynton Beach, is expected to open this year as the county’s 18th branch. A 19th location, in the town of Hypoluxo, is in the concept stage.
Under consideration are new branch locations at Mangonia Park, Avenir in western Palm Beach Gardens and the Lakehaven development near Arden off Southern Boulevard.
The county libraries host more than 4,000 different classes, seminars, and events for the public.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County will build new main library triple the current size
