BIGGER, BETTER, GREENER: NEW PLYMOUTH LIBRARY WILL OPEN MARCH 13
The new Plymouth Library at 15700 36
th Ave. N. is double the size of the previous library and has twice the parking, 50 percent more computers, and more than 11,000 more books, DVDs, CDs, and other materials. It will open on Saturday, March 13 — to the eager anticipation of a large community of enthusiastic readers that borrowed almost 900,000 books and other items from the previous library in 2007. Ribbon cutting and grand opening will take place at 9 a.m.
Plymouth residents are invited to join their neighbors, Hennepin County Commissioners Jeff Johnson and Mark Stenglein, former County Commissioner Penny Steele, Plymouth Mayor Kelli Slavik and other elected officials, Library Board President Therese VanBlarcom, Hennepin County Library staff, Friends of the Plymouth Library and the Library Foundation of Hennepin County to celebrate the opening of this new facility and community hub.
“As a frequent user of the Plymouth Library with my family prior to its closing, I know how excited and anxious people here are for the opening,” said Commissioner Jeff Johnson. “The Plymouth Library is a central gathering point for the community and everyone is excited to have it back soon.”
Commissioner Mark Stenglein said, “After almost two years, the wait is finally over and Plymouth residents have a library to call their own again. I am so delighted with this beautiful new space. It is a nice complement to the growing population of one of America’s best places to live. There is something here for everyone.”
BIGGER, BETTER
The new library will be bigger, better, and greener. Building features and highlights include:
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Double the space of the former library -- now 30,000 square feet total
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Double the number of parking spaces -- from 85 to 175
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Expanded collection of more than 90,000 books, DVDs and CDs
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Comfortable “living room” reading areas
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Interactive features for early childhood literacy
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Expanded and enhanced children’s area
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Teen zone for after-school learning and technology activities
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24 additional public computers for a total of 72 computers, and building-wide wireless access
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One additional Express Checkout, for a total of four
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Drive-up book drop
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Community room with options to connect to outdoor plaza for expanded program space
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Community “front porch” and outdoor plaza gathering area for programs and other activities
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Expanded space for book clubs, meetings and individual study. The previous library had one meeting room. The new library has a large community meeting room, a smaller meeting room, one conversation room, and six study rooms.
GREENER
The new Plymouth Library's green elements include:
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A green roof with plantings to reduce storm water runoff, help insulate the building, and reduce heating and cooling costs.
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A storm-water management pond and rain garden plants to control storm water overflow.
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Tall windows to take advantage of natural daylight.
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High efficiency, light-sensitive fixtures that will dim lighting according to the brightness of the library.
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More than 100 geothermal wells will provide more efficient heating and cooling.
The new library's roof consists of flat sections and sloped sections. Three separate sloped sections — above the main public library space, above the teen zone, and above the staff work area — are green. The green roofs are composed of multiple layers of materials; plantings are Minnesota native perennial plants. At the low points of the green roofs, a series of drains carry away excess moisture and deposit it into the storm water management pond on the east side of the parking lot.
Architect of the new Plymouth Library is Bentz/Thompson/Rietow. General contractor is Jorgenson Construction.
In addition to the grand opening event, watch for a special line-up of programs the first several weeks after the Plymouth Library opens. The Friends of the Plymouth Library are planning activities for all ages.
Said Carol Vannelli, president of the Friends of Plymouth Library, “The library was THE meeting place for the community — whenever you visited you saw someone you knew.” And now, with the opening of the new library, this meeting place is back!
Plymouth is one of the fastest growing communities in Minnesota. Its population in 2010 is expected to have grown almost 50 percent from the early 1990s. The previous, 15,000-square-foot library was one of the busiest in Hennepin County. In 2007, customers borrowed almost 900,000 books, CDs, DVDs, and other materials, a 68 percent increase in 11 years. It closed on May 31, 2008 to make way for new construction.
For more details about the new Plymouth Library and the grand opening:
www.hclib.org
2/22/2010
