Development
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Liberty Hill Public Library purchases land for larger facility
The library has partnered with a consultant to create a strategic plan that will inform the new space’s design using community feedback. The library gathered over 800 survey responses and held focus groups with community members over the last year. Community members expressed a desire for a programming room, a drive-up book drop, and spaces for teenagers, adults and children, Palmer said. Palmer said she would like the new space to serve as a hub for community members to gather, which she said the area lacks. With a larger space, the library may better serve certain age groups and provide classes on subjects such as computers, crafts, coding and resume building, she said.
The Liberty Hill Public Library is one step closer to building a larger library for its thousands of patrons. In July, the library purchased 6.6 acres of land at 1600 Main St., Liberty Hill, for a new facility. The purchase follows about a decade of planning and saving funds to open a space that will better meet the needs of the area’s growing community, Library Director Angela Palmer said. The Liberty Hill Public Library selected the new site because of its central location and accessibility to community members, Palmer said. The library district—which is funded through a portion of sales tax—used funding accumulated over the last 10 years along with a loan to purchase the land, she said.
29
LIBERTY HILL CHURCH OF CHRIST
LIBERTY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FORMER MAIN STREET SOCIAL BUILDING
1869
279
N
MAIN ST.
Why it matters
Going forward
The Liberty Hill Public Library has been looking to open a larger facility as the area’s population grows and the current building does not have enough space to accommodate its patrons’ needs, Palmer told Community Impact in December. Since 2003, the library has operated out of a 2,400-square-foot building while the population in its service district has increased by more than 300% over the last 20 years, according to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The library’s new space may be as large as 15,000-20,000 square feet, Palmer said. The site will allow the library to further expand if it chooses to do so, she said.
Number of new library members
The library is now working to raise significant funds for the new facility’s construction, Palmer said. To do so, the library is looking for people to help start a foundation. As a nonprofit, the library foundation would work to build an endowment by acquiring larger, corporate donations. Additionally, it’s reviving the Friends of the Liberty Hill Public Library District organization. The Liberty Hill Public Library District board anticipates the new building may be ready in 2027, Palmer said.
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2017-18 2019-20 2021-22 2023-24
Fiscal year
NOTE: EACH FISCAL YEAR RUNS FROM OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER. SOURCE: LIBERTY HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
BUILDING DREAMS TOGETHER CREATING YOUR IDEAL SPACE WITH TOP-NOTCH CONSTRUCTION
We specialize in restoration services-build backs, flooring, tile, customized interior builds, exterior
Hart CSG, LLC CONSTRUCTION SERVICES GROUP
builds, residential & commercial services. 254.681.0648 | HARTCSG.COM
13
LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook