"There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library."
--Andrew Carnegie

One of the most exciting aspects of the new City Center project is that it will include a new, state-of-the-art library. The new library will help expand the horizons of all our citizens, help the City of West Palm Beach create more park space and increase access to our waterfront, and be a driving force in our local economy.

Our current library has outgrown its facility and location, in part due to greatly increased demand for space and services. Our library needs more computers and computer classes, public meeting rooms, quiet study spaces, programs for teens and kids, cultural programs, and more materials, including books, DVDs, and music. Our new public library will feature a bookstore and coffee shop, interactive areas for kids and teens, and the latest in computer technology.

Moving the current library off Clematis Street will help city residents access and enjoy our biggest asset: the waterfront. In June of 2003, an independent Urban Land Institute report recommended moving the library off Clematis Street, to “uncork the bottle” and help open up the waterfront. As part of the City Center project, this goal will be accomplished. On the site of the former library, the City will construct a new City Commons and waterfront park, rich with amenities for people to enjoy. The new park will reestablish the historic link between the waterfront and the City’s downtown area.

The new public library will help rejuvenate our downtown Clematis area, and help meet the educational needs of our growing city. Public libraries are much more than just technology centers and places to store books; they are economic anchors, returning $6.54 for every $1.00 invested. On a state level, Florida’s communities get a direct economic benefit of $6 billion from public libraries. More than 500,000 people visit West Palm Beach’s current library every year, and that number is projected to double with the construction of a new facility.

Cities across the nation have recognized the tremendous benefits to having a public library as a signature portion of their downtown district. In Nashville, Tennessee, a new building led to a 237% increase in library use, and attracts visitors from both downtown and the suburbs. The Salt Lake City library is the second-most visited tourist attraction in all of Utah, and the demand for public meeting rooms and auditoriums exceeds their capacity. Seattle, Washington saw a 250% increase in library use when that city built a new facility, and also saw $16 million in net new economic activity.

Libraries offer opportunities to build and reinforce the reading skills and educational level of all citizens, especially children. Our new public library will not only open up access to the waterfront, help create park space, and spur economic development; it is an investment in our future that will help inspire our citizens to achieve.