STAFF REPORT
PHOTO by KAY RICHTER
Nearly four years after the effort began, Kyle officials broke ground on a new public library last week.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett joined 100 to 150 onlookers for the ceremony signifying the start of construction on the 20,000-square-foot library. The city council has approved a $3,567,000 budget for the project.
“We have been talking about building a new library for a very long time,” Kyle Mayor Lucy Johnson said. “We are all very excited to finally be moving dirt and preparing to build this lovely facility. I believe our citizens are going to be very proud of this library and that it will add a great deal to the character of our entire city.”
The price tag is more than the $3.2 million estimation approved by a different council in 2009. The overdue project warrants the added expenses, current city council members said.
“These are difficult economic times and library services are more important than ever during times like these,” said Kathy Ryan, Library Building Committee chair.
The new Kyle Public Library, located on Scott Street in the western part of downtown‚ will include community rooms to accommodate meetings and gatherings as well as special areas for teens and young children. Expanded computer areas and an outdoor plaza feature will also be included. The exterior of the building will feature limestone and brick and will mirror Kyle’s architectural brand established with the construction of its new City Hall five years ago.
PHOTO by KAY RICHTER
City officials have rarely disagreed on the need for a new library since citizens started pushing for the expenditure in 2007. But struggle over the library’s location made headlines in recent years with downtown area advocates fighting for the Scott Street site over another proposed location in the uptown section of the Plum Creek development near the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center.
The city’s current 5,000-square-foot library is located in the heart of downtown Kyle and has served the community since 1962. Since then, Kyle has grown from a small ranching community to a full service city of 30,000.
Much of Kyle’s growth has occurred over the past 10 years when the city was the fifth fastest-growing city in Texas.
The completion of the new Kyle Public Library is expected by early- to mid-2012. The architect is BLGY Inc. and the contractor is Raymond Construction Inc.
