It was quite an affair Wednesday as city, county and state elected officials, town employees, library staff and builders celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Tyrone Library.

Fifteen years in the making, the new 9,009 square-foot, $1.7 million library will be located on Commerce Drive adjacent to the town’s recreation center. The library will feature a children’s wing, an adult wing and, positioned between the two, a programming/commons area.

Mayor Cheryl Lee complimented Rep. Virgil Fludd, Sen. Ronnie Chance, area and regional library systems, Fayette County and the Tyrone Town Council for assisting in making the new library a reality. Perhaps the most enduring compliment went to former librarian Sybil Stanech, whose efforts a decade and a half ago were realized on the morning of May 9.

“We’ve all worked together as a team,” Lee said. “This is what teamwork will get you.”

It will be the fourth, and perhaps the last move for the Tyrone Library. Originally located at the current Police Department, the library relocated to the building housing Public Works and then to its current 2,450 square-foot location at city hall. Now 15 years later, construction on the new library is about to begin. The expected grand opening date is 200 days away, Lee said smiling.

The estimated cost of the library project $1,733,000, including $1,270,000 in state funds and $463,000 funded by the town. Pope Partners is architect for the $1,332,516 facility, being built by Headley Construction Corp. Once completed, the library will have the capacity for 22,000 books and reference materials for adults and 12,000 for children.

login to post comments