Take our virtual tour of new $9.4 million library branch expected to boost South Columbus
Pepper Grimmett, manager of the South Columbus Public Library, lived for part of her childhood in the neighborhood, so she has professional and personal experience to put this moment in proper perspective.
When the expanded and renovated SCPL opens Tuesday at 2034 South Lumpkin Road, this $9.4 million project will be a huge boost to this community, Grimmett predicts.
“They don’t have all the resources that are available in other parts of town,” she told the Ledger-Enquirer. “That is our goal, to bring all that to the residents and make them feel they’re just as important as anybody on the north side.”
For two years, the SCPL operated one-third of a mile away in the former school at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church while the new facility was built.
The new SCPL’s 21,000 square feet more than doubles the size of the original branch that was built in 1992. Alan Harkness, director of the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, explained the rationale for a bigger and better facility to match the level of the two other branch libraries in Columbus.
“The old building was built before the internet,” Harkness told the Ledger-Enquirer. “… In order to do what you need in an urban public library setting, we needed more space to do that, especially here, being between two schools (South Columbus Elementary and Eddy Middle).”
Grimmett and her eight fellow staff members at SCPL have a combined 78 years of experience working in libraries. She promises customer service worthy of this state-of-the-art facility.
“We have staff that are going to treat you like they would any of our family,” she said. “… When (visitors) walk in, they’re going to get somebody that will spend time with them and find what their needs are. If we can’t meet their needs, then we’ll connect them with resources that can help with their needs.”
Virtual tour of the new South Columbus Public Library
The new SCPL has open sight lines for better security and a brighter atmosphere.
“It’s a more inviting environment for browsing,” Grimmett said.
The storytime area includes a tiny stage for presentations and playtime.
The children’s area also is home to an Everbright, where kids can rotate hundreds of illuminated dials through a spectrum of 158 colors. It’s a kid-friendly way to introduce them to the world of computer coding, Grimmett said.
For visitors who have infants and toddlers along with them, they can keep the little ones occupied and safe in what’s dubbed the Crawl Space, designed for parents and guardians who need time on a computer while still keeping an eye on their child.
The teen area has two video game stations that are screened for appropriate content. A studio, equipped with a 75-inch TV, provides space for teen programming, such as video blogging, music recording, crafts and gaming.
In addition to Wi-Fi, the new SCPL has for public use 49 desktop computers, 2 MacBooks, 10 iPads and 15 laptops. The computer lab has 13 computers and an 85-inch TV. This all expands the SCPL’s computer capacity by more than 50%.
The meeting room is a flexible space for as many as 75 people, featuring a 98-inch TV screen with A/V hookups.
There are two study rooms, one for four to six people and the other for 8 to 12. The larger room has a TV with A/V hookups.
Throughout the new SCPL, the walls display photography by local artist Kenny Gray, depicting people and scenes in south Columbus.
Outside the building are two fenced-in spaces for youth activities. One space is for teens, the other for younger children.
Collection items, services at the new Columbus library
At approximately 8,000 printed items, the size of the new SCPL’s collection doubles the previous one. But as part of the CVL system, SCPL customers can request any item from any branch through the computerized catalog and have it routed to their preferred branch.
Those items also may be returned to any branch in the CVL, which is a fines-free system. So no need to worry about returning borrowed items late; CVL just wants you to bring them back so other customers can benefit from them.
Like all CVL branches, the SCPL will offer a variety of science, technology, engineering, arts and math kits, commonly referred to as STEAM kits. The library also has Launchpad learning tablets, Wonderbooks (children’s picture books with built-in audio), museum passes, METRA bus passes and blood pressure kits.
SCPL is the only CVL branch that offers fax services. Additional services include 3D printing, reading programs and an emphasis on a variety of free activities to serve children and teens visiting after school.
Programming includes early literacy, educational and cultural events, storytimes, book clubs, one-on-one computer sessions, computer classes and crafting.
South Columbus Public Library’s operating hours
The SCPL is open:
- Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Closed on Sundays.
Where $9.4M came from for new South Columbus Public Library
Funding sources for this $9.4 million project are:
- $3.8 million from the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries’ reserves
- $3 million from private donations to the Muscogee County Library Foundation
- $2 million from the Georgia Public Library Service and through the Georgia General Assembly
- $600,000 from the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for capital projects in the Muscogee County School District. MCSD owns and operates the public libraries in Columbus.
Harkness expressed his gratitude for this project’s public-private partnership.
“We could not have done this without our Muscogee County Library Foundation and a number of donors who stepped up and said they wanted to be a part of what we’re doing here,” he said. “They wanted to make a difference in south Columbus.”
This project’s architect is Scott Holmes of the Hecht Burdeshaw firm in Columbus, and Gordy Construction Company of Fortson is the contractor.
This story was originally published September 16, 2024 at 9:36 AM.
