Just a few moments after saying the new Clinton Library is “about building the future,” Laurens County Council Vice-Chairman Matthew Brownlee was sitting on a stool in the STEM room with a pair of VR Goggles headed for Antarctica.
It is just the start of the adventures that citizens of Clinton and Laurens County will have, now and for generations to come, in the $4.3 Million library that was dedicated on Sunday.
“It takes a library to raise a community,” said Renita Barksdale, Library Director, “and this library accomplishes that mission and that goal. I am proud of this library, the city of Clinton, and Laurens County. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this community. I can’t wait until we outgrow this building, and we need another one.”
Clinton Mayor Randy Randall said, “What a happy day this is today. This is a space for all of us. We are so proud in the City of Clinton to have this. It is a testament to people coming together for something good, and it’s going to benefit every single person in the City of Clinton and the County of Laurens.”
Built with Capital Projects Sales Tax money, the Library also benefitted from the generosity of the Vance Family, owner of the West Pitts Street site; the Bailey Foundation, benefactor of the reading garden; the Cooper and Jackson families for endowing the children’s room in honor of the late Leslie Ann Jackson; and the Institute for Museums and Libraries for a $50,000 grant to outfit the STEM room.
In addition to Brownlee, Barksdale, and Randall, participants in the library dedication were Mistress of Ceremony Jamie Lambert, deputy director; Rev. Michael Post, pastor of Lucas Avenue Baptist Church, for the invocation; Walter Hughes, chairman, Capital Projects Sales Tax Committee; Tammy DeWitt, library assistant, Clinton branch; Wanda Woody, president, Board of Trustees; and Patricia Moberg, president, Friends of the Library.
Barksdale gave a special thank you to Studio 2LR Architecture & Interiors and Solid Structures general contractor for bringing a planning committee’s dreams for the library building to fruition.
Brownlee said, on behalf of Laurens County, that this is not just bricks and mortar — “it’s about building a future; inside these walls are spaces designed for readers of all ages, study rooms for students, a large meeting space for community events, and even outdoor areas for gatherings. This space was built by the community for the community. This library is more that just a building. It is a beacon of opportunity. It will serve as a hub for learning, innovation, community connections whether its children’s story hours that spark a love of reading, digital literacy workshops that bridge the technology gap, or spaces for entrepreneurs to chase their dreams, this library is designed to enrich lives across generations. It’s a gateway to opportunity, a launchpad for dreams, and a front porch for this community to gather and learn together.”
On behalf of the Friends of the Library, a special prize giveaway for the occasion, a Kindle Fire, was awarded to Terry Dendy. Long after the speeches were made and the ribbon was cut, people milled around together to enjoy communing in the new Clinton Public Library.
A news media preview of the library here.
