The doors of the new Foley Community Library officially opened Tuesday, Aug. 4, welcoming hundreds of residents eager to explore the city’s new $20-million community resource.
The 40,000-square-foot library and community center marks the completion of more than three years of planning and construction to create a facility designed to serve Foley’s growing population for decades to come.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the new building reflects the city’s commitment to meeting the community’s future needs.
“We have doubled the size of this library,” Hellmich said. “It is now 40,000 square feet. It has extra spaces that can be used by the community.”
The new facility provides much more room for books, programs and community activities while expanding the role of the library beyond its traditional services.
“Libraries in this country are changing,” Hellmich said. “This library is a community center as well as what we think of as a traditional library. The programs here will support our community, whether it’s reading programs, children’s programs, adult programs, genealogy, on and on and on.”
When Foley’s previous library opened in 1984, the city had about 4,500 residents. Today, Foley’s population has grown to about 30,000, increasing demand for library services.
“We have the busiest library in Baldwin County,” Hellmich said. “It is active and it is important to our community.”
The new library was made possible through the efforts of city staff, including the library’s 25 employees, along with other municipal departments, White-Spunner Construction, Williams Blackstock Architects and the Foley City Council.
Library Director Kate Norris said the additional space will allow the library to expand its programs and better serve residents of all ages.
“We needed the space,” Norris said. “Before we moved, we were on top of each other. Now, there’s so much opportunity in this environment. We already offered a lot of programming. We now have the opportunity to offer so much more.”
Norris said the library’s mission extends beyond books by providing opportunities for residents to connect with one another.
“We are a place of connection, and we are going to be able to offer more opportunities for people to come in and connect and just be a part of the community,” she said. “We’re excited about that.”
The new library features a variety of spaces designed to serve the community, including a sensory room, dedicated children’s and teen activity areas, the Children’s Story Grove, a STEAM-STEM lab, and a multipurpose meeting room that seats 277 people. Visitors can also enjoy a second-floor porch overlooking the Perry Wilbourne Antique Rose Trail and the city’s Dog Park.
Opening day included activities throughout the building, with visitors participating in a scavenger hunt raffle, exploring meeting spaces and enjoying family-friendly events. Children also took part in a bookmark contest, with winners to be announced later this week.
The Foley Community Library is located at 230 E. Orange Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is closed on Sundays. More information is available at www.foleylibrary.org.
The former library building on East Laurel Avenue, adjacent to City Hall, will be renovated for future municipal use.