#2BFayetteville

It seems wrong to just call it a "library." The newly reimagined Fayetteville Public Library is a portal to a world of inspiration and innovation. It seems wrong to just call it a "library." The word conjures images of stacks of books and solo contemplation, with librarians whispering "shhhhh." The newly expanded and renovated Fayetteville Public Library couldn't be further from that image. "This project has been in development for a long time, and it's almost hard to believe that we can now invite the community inside of our vision," said David Johnson, executive director of Fayetteville Public Library. "One of the main goals of this expansion is to encourage patrons to explore the full definition of literacy, and I truly believe that happens every time someone explores the space for the first time." The renovation, which broke ground in March 2019, has now been completed, taking what was already a world-class library into a vision of all a library can be—a gathering space, a creative hub, a wonderland of playing, learning and curiosity, a portal to personal growth, a skill-building center for a changing world. The library has nearly doubled in size, expanding to more than 170,000 square feet. And within that space: a Fabrication/Robotics Lab, Culinary Arts Teaching Kitchen, A/V Production Studio, Photography Studio, Recording Studio, Simulation Lab, 23 study rooms, an Art and Movement Room, a 700-seat Event Center, outdoor programming space and so much more. Walk through the doors and step into a place of imagination and inspiration. Think less "library" and more "launching pad" for discovering interests, turning those interests into passions and those passions into careers. Make no mistake, there are still plenty of traditional offerings. The collections have expanded, with thousands of new acquisitions of all genres. 17 Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce

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