Hall County Library’s Gainesville branch will reopen to the public on Monday, Sept. 21 after being closed for several months for a monumental remodel.
"This is like an entirely new library-just in the same location as the old one," Hall County Library System Director Lisa MacKinney said. "We have a new entry, a larger youth area, a story time room, study rooms, improved security in the history and genealogy area and a large meeting room. It is such a functional, updated space."
In addition, the remodeled space includes a general facelift for the entire building, which was originally constructed in the 1970s.
"This facility has been a place of refuge and learning for countless people for roughly half a century," MacKinney said. "So while we’ve updated it in almost every way, we’ve taken great care to maintain its sense of discovery and respite-and, of course, we’ve left the large, iconic spiraled staircase as a nod to the building’s former life."
A small, private rededication ceremony will be held with elected officials and key stakeholders for the project on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. in the Northeast Georgia Health System Community Room. That ceremony will be streamed live at www.hallcounty.org and www.hallcountylibrary.org for the public to view if they so desire. In addition, a virtual tour of the library will be available in coming weeks on Hall County’s website.
"We are looking forward to having the public come and see this new space and all of the wonderful resources it offers; however, we are mindful of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and want to ensure this reopening is done in a way that is safe for the public and for library employees," said Hall County Assistant Administrator Marty Nix.